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THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

GIFT  OF 

James  Sis son 


THE   WITCH   OF   EN-DOR 
AND    OTHER   POEMS. 

FRANCIS  S.  SALTUS. 


NOTE — 1000  copies  only  printed  for  America 
and  England.  Each  numbered  as  issued. 
Type  distributed. 


No. 


EngibyH&C-Koevoels  N.Y 


THE  WITCH  OF  EN-DOR 


AND   OTHER  POEMS 


BY 


FRANCIS    S.    SALTUS. 


BUFFALO 

CHARLES   WELLS   MOULTON 
1891 


COPYRIGHT,  1890, 

BY 

F.    H.    SALTUS. 


BIGELOW  PRESS  :    BUFFALO,  N.  Y. 


FROM  THE  SHADOW  OF  THE  SHADE 

THIS  WORK 
WITH  LOVING  GRATITUDE 

IS   MOST  AFFECTIONATELY 

INSCRIBED 

TO 

THEODORE    SALTUS 

IN   RECOGNITION 
OF   HIS   LOVE  AND   KINDNESS 

TO   ME   IN   LIFE 
AND   TO   MY    MEMORY  IN   DEATH. 


Friend,  I  am  now  beyond  the  Earth's  affliction, 
I  speak  unto  the e  from  a  Heavenly  strand, 

While  Christ  our  Saviour  gives  me  benediction, 
And  smiling,  HOLDS  MY  HAND. 

—FROM  THE  POEM  OF  JUDAS. 


CONTENTS 


The  Witch  of  En-dor,      .  i 

Fear,     ...  14 

Jealousy,  ....  .  15 

Extermination,      .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .  16 

Misrepresentation,  .         .         .         .         .         .         .20 

Ultima  Thule, 33 

Abraham,          . 35 

Mood  of  Sorrow, 44 

Accusation,       .......  -45 

Sonnet, 52 

Cain, .53 

Potiphar's  Wife, 64 

A  Soul's  Soliloquy, 69 

Embarrassment,  76 

Samson  and  Delilah,        .         .  -77 

Worship,       ...... 

God's  Ennui,  ....  .89 

Discontent,  ....  9° 

Curiosity, 91 


xviii  CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

Judas,                    .  92 

Moses  on  Sinai,       .  •     I09 

Ad  Summum  Deum,  I21 

Omnia  Possedens,             .  •     I25 

Lazarus,        ....  X33 

Babel,       ....  .     144 

Carthage,      ...  I45 

Bel-shar-uzzur,          .  .183 

Lot's  Wife,                    •         2Sl 


THE  SONG  OF  DAVID. 

He  sang  of  God,  the  mighty  source 
Of  all  things,  the  stupendous  force 

On  which  all  strength  depends! 
From  Whose  right  arm,  beneath  Whose  eyes, 
All  period,  power  and  enterprise 

Commences,  reigns,  and  ends. 

The  world,  the  clustering  spheres  He  made, 
The  glorious  light,  the  soothing  shade, 

Dale,  champaign,  grove  and  hill; 
The  multitudinous  abyss, 
Where  secresy  remains  in  bliss 

And  Wisdom  hides  her  skill. 

Tell  them  I  AM,  Jehovah  said 

To  Moses!  while  Earth  heard  in  dread, 

And,  smitten  to  the  heart, 
At  once,  above,  beneath,  around, 
All  Nature,  without  voice  or  sound 

Replied,  O  Lord,  THOU  ART! 

—C.  SMART,  1770. 


THE  WITCH  OF  EN-DOR. 

I,  Shumma,  radiant  with  all  woman's  graces 
And  bloom  of  summers,  had  the  rooted  wish 
To  be  beloved  of  Saul,  the  son  of  Kish, 

The  Benjamite  and  lord  of  many  places, 

Saul,  our  first  holy  King,  by  God  appointed 
To  rule  the  legions  of  the  Israelites, 
To  give  them  statutes  and  command  their  fights, 

Saul,  who  by  pious  Samuel  was  anointed. 

And  on  my  couch,  adorned  in  shesh  and  scarlet, 
I  dreamed  of  him  in  exquisite  unrest ; 
While  love  had  dove-like  nestled  in  my  breast, 

And  purified  the  soul  of  me,  a  harlot. 

For  I  had  seen  him  in  imperious  manner 
Marshal  his  armored  followers,  and  go 
To  scourge  the  insolence  of  the  nation's  foe, 

And  o'er  Philistine  dead  wave  Israel's  banner. 


THE   WITCH  OF  EN-DOR. 

Erect,  a  tower  of  strength,  in  vigor  peerless, 
Taller  than  all  the  people  by  his  side, 
I  saw  him  through  his  populous  cities  ride 

In  virile  splendor,  arrogant  and  fearless. 

And  love  invaded  all  my  rosy  beauty, 

While  trembling,  and  enraptured,  and  enslaved, 
Mute  at  his  royal  feet  I  humbly  craved 

One  look  of  love  as  largess  and  as  booty. 

Before  him,  bathed  in  unguents  most  delicious, 
Draped  in  rich  jeweled  robes,  I  often  knelt, 
But  his  imperious  glances  never  dwelt 

Upon  me  prostrate,  in  shy  ways  ambitious. 

He  passed  me  by  in  majesty  elated, 

And  no  soft  flattery  for  my  presence  found, 
For  he  in  fertile  Gilgal  had  been  crowned, 

And  was  by  loud  success  intoxicated. 

And  yet  no  thought  of  feminine  resentment 
For  outraged  feeling  did  I  cherish  then  ; 
He  still  remained  to  me  the  lord  of  men  ; 

His  beauty  filled  me  with  a  vast  contentment. 


THE   WITCH  OF  EN-DOR. 

For  was  I  not  more  beauteous,  love-enraptured, 
Than  his  dusk  wives,  and  slaves,  and  dancing  girls, 
More  fair,  with  my  perfumes,  and  rings,  and  curls, 

Than  the  Philistine  maidens  he  had  captured  ? 

Aye,  and  glad  hopes  were  in  my  bosom  teeming, 

For  mystic  intuitions  most  benign 

Had  warned  me  of  the  hour  he  would  be  mine, 
And  I,  serene,  passed  the  long  dull  days  dreaming. 

For  I  revered  his  prowess  and  the  glory 

Of  all  his  deeds,  whene'er  he  wandered  forth 
To  the  drear,  foeful  ravines  of  the  North, 

To  make  in  hottest  fray  his  armor  gory  ! 

And  I,  in  dreams,  saw  battles  raging  frantic, 
Swift  hurrying  steeds  and  labyrinths  of  spears, 
I  heard  the  clash  of  tzinnahs  and  the  cheers, 

And  over  all  I  saw  him  tower  gigantic  ! 

A  diadem  upon  his  brows  and  weighted 

With  glistening  greaves,  a  carnage-god  most  grand, 
While  in  the  supple  terror  of  his  hand 

His  massive,  reeking  chanith  scintillated  ! 


THE   WITCH  OF  EN-DOR. 

Ah,  sweet  Jehovah  blest !     Was  he  not  glorious 
The  day  the  gross  Amalekites  he  slew, 
And  dragged  Agag,  their  king,  and  retinue, 

Captive  and  gyved,  unto  his  towns  victorious  ? 

Yea  !  and  I  loved  his  blind,  impetuous  valor, 
The  towering  passions  of  his  soul  and  eyes, 
His  brawny  torso  and  his  battle  cries, 

And  all  that  face  that  never  knew  fear's  pallor. 

And  when,  war-worn,  he  feasted  to  restore  him 
From  sullen  thought,  I  with  his  slaves  would  come, 
And  to  the  sound  of  timbrel  and  of  drum 

Would  dance  in  stately  palace-ways  before  him  ! 

Circled  by  glittering  warriors  and  his  spouses, 

Moodily  would  he  .sit,  sedate  and  mute, 

Deaf  to  the  stirring  trebles  of  the  lute, 
Spurning  the  merriment  and  the  mad  carouses. 

For  deadly  dreams  and  fantasies  would  seize  him, 
His  valorous  veins  would  bound  with  unknown  fears, 
While  David,  moved  by  his  infuriate  tears, 

Would  throb  his  moaning  harp's  soul  forth  to  please  him. 


THE   WITCH  OF  EN-DOR. 

And  I,  who  could  have  given  him  delectation, 
I,  who  with  loves  insensate  ever  burned, 
Was  by  my  drowsy,  dreamy  monarch  spurned, 

But  worshiped  still  in  patient  expectation. 


Then  the  day  came  when  Midianitish  legions 
Assembled  where  the  Shunem  hills  commence, 
And  pitched  thereon  their  desecrating  tents, 

And  roamed  and  reveled  through  Gilboan  regions. 

And  Saul,  aroused  from  lethargy  and  sadness, 
Grew  strangely  troubled  and  was  sore  afraid  ; 
His  god  of  promises  refused  him  aid, 

And  in  his  eyes  there  gleamed  the  fires  of  madness. 

Distrust  and  fitful  omens  overfilled  him  ; 

Blinded  with  doubt  he  could  not  see  his  way  ; 

Too  proud  to  die,  too  vacillant  to  pray, 
Visions  of  death  and  of  disaster  chilled  him. 

Then  I,  the  scorned,  the  baffled,  the  unheeded, 
I,  the  poor  outcast  courtesan,  the  one 
He  would  not  pitifully  look  upon, 

I,  the  frail  harlot  who  had  vainly  pleaded, 


THE   WITCH  OF  EN-DOR. 

Bribed  with  my  gold  and  ill-begotten  treasure 

His  falsest  friends  and  made  their  households  rich, 
And  he  was  bidden  by  them  to  seek  a  witch, 

Consult  the  stars  and  brave  his  God's  displeasure. 

And  he  gave  heed  unto  them,  broken-hearted, 
Weary  of  shallow  nights  and  morbid  days  ; 
And  through  Manasseh,  in  quick,  silent  ways, 

Unto  En-dor  I  secretly  departed. 

There  did  I  find,  in  wildernesses  dismal, 
A  cave  forsaken  amid  all  solitude, 
High  in  cold  mountains  where  the  eagles  brood, 

Above  a  precipice  of  depth  abysmal, 

Humid  and  dark,  where  noisome  larvae  shimmered, 
Foul  with  dank  reptiles  and  the  stench  of  eft, 
By  dizzy  lightning  at  the  summit  cleft,  [mered. 

And  where  the  unwholesome  moonbeams  vaguely  glim- 

Now  Saul  had  cast  forth,  by  deluded  fancy, 

Each  ill-reputed  wizard  from  the  land  ; 

And  torments  terrible  had  long  been  planned 
For  all  who  dealt  in  charms  and  necromancy. 


THE   WITCH  OF  EN-DOR. 

And  for  a  space  I  deemed  some  foulest  hater, 
One  I  had  bribed  and  pitilessly  spurned 
When  for  my  kisses  amorous  he  yearned, 

Had  broken  all  trust  and  turned  on  me  a  traitor. 

But  no  !  I  heard  his  step,  and  doubt  was  shaken  ; 
By  night  he  came,  and  timorous,  in  disguise, 
In  great  extremity,  with  wandering  eyes, 

Fasting  and  pale,  and  by  his  God  forsaken  ! 

I  met  him  at  the  cave's  bleak  door,  convulsive, 
Wrinkled,  in  fetid  rags,  made  foul  by  art, 
And  lulled  the  soft  throbs  of  my  leaping  heart, 

Crouching  before  him,  squalid  and  repulsive. 

But  under  all  this  filthy  abomination, 

Swathed  in  soft  satin  to  my  trembling  knees, 
My  redolent  body  burned  in  tempting  ease, 

Perfumed  and  gemmed  I  stood  in  expectation. 

And  though  my  lust  restrained  and  new  ambition 
Urged  me  to  rush  to  him  with  arms  outspread, 
With  cunning  shrewd  I  simulated  dread 

And  in  shrill  tones  asked  then  his  wish  and  mission. 


THE  WITCH  OF  EN-DOR. 

He  told  me  all  in  stammering  consternation, 
His  vast  desires,  the  longings  of  his  soul, 
And,  in  dire  anguish  beyond  all  control, 

Implored  the  succor  of  my  incantation. 

And  I,  the  artful  pythoness,  to  alarm  him 
With  subtle  sorceries  and  hold  him  fast, 
Did  fill  with  miasmal  herbs  a  cauldron  vast, 

While  muttering  foolish  syllables  to  charm  him. 

And  at  his  feet,  by  cautious  care  assembled, 
I  burned  mephitic  drugs  and  venoms  dire; 
With  adder  skins  and  pestilential  briar, 

While  he,  my  Saul,  the  strong  one,  watched  and  trembled. 

Then  by  swift,  dextrous  tricks  and  transpositions, 
Before  his  credulous  eyes  I  made  pass  by 
Majestic  shapes,  like  those  of  gods  on  high, 

Grim,  hollow  ghosts  and  woeful  apparitions  ! 

My  tutored  slaves,  obedient  as  I  willed  it, 
Arose  in  glamoured  mist  and  told  to  him 
All  I  had  taught  them  in  my  earliest  whim, 

And  awed  his  dumb,  attentive  heart  and  chilled  it. 


THE   WITCH  OE  EN-DOR. 

And  by  my  rapid  signs  admonitory, 

Rising  from  doleful  and  phantasmal  gloom, 
Before  him  suddenly  did  largely  loom 

The  angered  prophet  Samuel,  grave  and  hoary. 

And  as  Saul  gazed,  bewildered  and  pathetic, 
With  cold  lips  moving  in  unconscious  prayer, 
Of  all  my  wiles  perfidious  unaware, 

The  spirit  spake  in  sentences  prophetic. 

And  he  who  heard  these  ominous  tones,  affrighted, 
Fell  prone  unto  the  earth  in  livid  fear, 
While  I  rejoiced  to  know  and  feel  him  near, 

And  pressed  his  nerveless  form  to  mine,  delighted. 


Then,  as  he  was  a-hungered  and  most  dreary, 
I  bade  my  acolytes  to  swiftly  bring 
A  tender  calf  and  slay  it  for  the  king, 

To  fortify  the  flesh  unmanned  and  weary. 

And  in  good  haste  with  feverish  palms  I  kneaded 
Flour,  and  did  bake  him  there  unleavened  bread, 
While  he,  like  some  snake-tortured  bird,  in  dread, 

Gazed  vacantly  about  and  no  thing  heeded. 


io  THE   WITCH  OF  EN-DOR. 

And  yet  with  eagerness  and  hands  unsteady, 
Of  all  my  viands  he  partook  with  trust, 
And  drained  my  wine  that  urged  on  eager  lust, 

The  wine  of  dreamy  herbs  that  I  held  ready. 

And  so,  refreshed,  he  leaned  upon  my  shoulder, 
And  seeing  no  spectral  harbinger  of  doom, 
Sought  for  his  chanith  in  the  murky  gloom, 

And  finding  it,  grew  confident  and  bolder. 

Then  to  the  hurrying  winds  that  blew  around  us, 
I  hurled  the  infamy  of  my  disguise  ! 
And  wanton-like,  with  large  enamored  eyes, 

I  kissed  him,  as  imperious  rapture  crowned  us. 

In  love's  most  tempting  and  delicious  fashion 
I  stood  to  dissipate  his  painful  dream, 
Peerless  in  promise  and  in  joy  supreme, 

Warm  with  my  longing,  with  my  hope,  my  passion  ! 

And  ere  from  dazzled  torpor  he  could  waken, 
Unto  my  breast  I  held  my  god,  my  all, 
My  paradise,  my  ravishment,  my  Saul, 

By  fiercest  ardor  overcome  and  shaken  ! 


THE   WITCH  OF  EN-DOR. 

Ah,  God  !  what  ecstasy  to  hold  him  gladly, 
Chill  to  my  lips,  and  dull  his  surly  doubt 
With  frenzied  grasps  and  kisses,  while  without 

The  moaning  winds  thro'  En-dor  wandered  madly  ! 

Alone,  alone  with  Saul  !  Jehovah's  chosen, 

The  dominant  king,  the  hero  who  had  scorned 
My  beauty  irresistibly  adorned, 

No  longer  dumb,  no  longer  mute  and  frozen, 

But  lover-like  and  by  love's  pangs  demented, 
The  amorous  monarch  of  my  dreams,  who  heard 
The  story  of  my  subterfuge,  each  word 

And  long  caress  that  tempered  it,  contented  ! 

And  when  I  stammered  forth  in  sighs  and  fever 
How  I  had  made  him  mine,  and  blessed  the  guile, 
Heaven  would  revere  the  sweetness  of  his  smile 

And  his  fond  pardon  unto  me,  deceiver  ! 

And,  although  struggling  still  with  doubts  pernicious, 
And  all  the  wordless  fears  that  loathe  to  die, 
Fresh  confidence  grew  in  him  then,  for  I 

Had  tossed  to  gloom  all  breedings  superstitious. 


12  THE   WITCH  OF  EN-DOR. 

"Why  did  I  know  thee  not,"  he  cried,  "  of  mortals 
The  perfect  flower  and  fragrance  ?  I  am  strong, 
And  Saul  thy  king,  and  yet  I  did  thee  wrong, 

Thou  who  hast  turned  me  from  death's  very  portals. 

1 

"  For  I,  to-morrow,  if  the  Lord  doth  spare  us, 
Will  go  with  Jonathan  my  son  and  friend, 
And  strong  Abinadab  my  son,  to  rend 

The  mongrel  hordes  that  clamorously  dare  us. 

"  So  tell  me,  queen  of  lissom  sorceresses, 
Dost  thou  not  still  betray  thy  trusting  Saul? 
Oh,  answer  fearlessly,  didst  thou  see  all 

The  wavering  phantoms  in  their  somber  dresses  ? 

"  Didst  thou  behold  or  bring  about  the  horrid 
Dire  shadow  draped  in  mysteries  of  white, 
The  accusing  figure  of  a  Midianite, 

That  hurled  dull  blood  unto  my  burning  forehead  ? 

"  Dost  thou,  oh  peerless  Shumma  mine,  remember 
Elusive  shapes  that  answered  not  thy  call, 
Dim  films  of  light  abhorrent  to  thy  Saul, 

That  rose  unquestioned  from  thy  cauldron's  ember? 


THE   WITCH  OF  EN  -DOR.  13 


"  Didst  thou  see  0///"  Yea,  yea,  again  I  told  him. 

"This  canst  thou  swear?"    Aye,  have  no  foolish  dread. 

And  sighing,  on  his  breast  I  drooped  my  head, 
And  with  soft  arms  did  languidly  enfold  him. 

Gone  were  the  visions  terrible  and  hated, 

Gone  were  the  pains  my  kisses  strove  to  heal, 
While  by  his  side,  like  a  great  ghost  of  steel, 

His  mighty,  massive  chanith  scintillated  ! 


And  he  went  forth  at  day  and  left  me  sleeping, 
Alone  within  the  dull  cave's  dawnless  gloom, 
Unconscious  of  a  sad,  impendent  doom, 

Fond  memories  of  his  regal  passion  keeping. 

And  as  I  weary  slept,  he  bent  him  over 
To  cull  the  drowsy  promise  of  my  breath  ; 
And  then  he  went  to  Gilboa  and  to  death, 

Saul  my  beloved,  my  Benjamite,  my  lover  ! 

To  Gilboa  perilous  with  armies  teeming, 

Leaving  me  there,  his  slave,  his  love,  his  sin, 
To  perish  grandly  in  the  battle's  din, 

While  I  in  calm  serenity  lay  dreaming ! 


14  FEAR. 


FEAR. 

The  being  supreme,  that  universes  call 

God  ;  He  who  made  us  in  His  matchless  might  ; 
God,  who  exists  in  love,  and  song,  and  light, 

Whose  august  name  can  doubting  souls  appall, 

Disdains  the  humble  homage  of  us  all, 

Weak,  puny  motes  His  fiery  glaive  can  smite, 
And  scorns  our  prayers  as  age  to  age  takes  flight, 

While  the  frail  earth  before  Him  bows,  a  thrall  ! 

For  he  is  tortured  by  intolerant  dread  ! 
The  dismal  knowledge  of  superior  powers 

That  could  annihilate  him  with  a  breath, 
Thrills  and  dismays  him,  while,  uncomforted, 
Among  his  myriad  stars  he  trembling  cowers, 
Filled  with  the  unutterable  fear  of  Death  ! 


JEALOUSY.  15 


JEALOUSY. 

Satan,  an  angel  once  in  realms  divine, 

The  loved  and  chosen  of  God  by  his  sweet  grace, 
Dwelt  with  him  in  the  miracles  of  space, 

And  worshiped  with  the  hosts  before  his  shrine. 

But  latent  thoughts  of  perfidy  malign, 

Dusked  the  strange  glory  of  his  perfect  face, 
And  God,  who  light  in  his  dark  soul  could  trace, 

Hurled  down  to  Hell  the  sinner  saturnine  ! 

Though  stricken  and  ired,  he  did  not  then  despair, 
Grimly  remembering  how  he  once  implored 

And  won,  by  haughty  mien  and  accent  proud, 
The  love  of  that  vague  creature,  grandly  fair, 
Whose  awful  beauty  Heaven  itself  adored, 
And  before  whom  God  as  a  suppliant  bowed  ! 


16  EXTERMINATION. 


EXTERMINATION. 

A  VISION. 

With  prescient  sight  that  pierced  the  future's  distance, 
Through  countless  centuries  of  doubts  and  fears, 

I  witnessed  earth  as  it  will  have  existence, 
In  twice  a  million  years  ! 

On  such  grand  lapses  from  time's  pages  sundered, 

I  only  dared  to  gaze  in  utter  awe 
Dazzled  by  new-born  power,  and  while  I  wondered 

As  in  a  dream,  I  saw 

Vast,  populous  towns  of  contour  Babylonian, 

Temples  and  palaces  imperially  rare, 
Mazes  of  marble,  grandiose  and  Neronian, 

Towering  everywhere  ! 

The  teachings  of  the  past  seemed  to  engender 

Divinest  art  in  methods  most  intense  ; 
All  I  beheld  was  beauty,  form  and  splendor, 

Grace  and  magnificence  ! 


EXTERMINA  TION.  1 7 

All  who  breathed  here,  sons  of  forgotten  races, 

Were  of  a  new  and  lofty  lineage  proud  ; 
Moving  in  plastic  strength,  with  regal  faces, 

Haughty  and  Caesar  browed. 

And  I,  whose  eyes  by  God-like  divination 
To  all  their  secrets  were  no  longer  blind, 

Read  every  thought  that  rilled  with  exaltation 
The  universal  mind. 

These  creatures  knew  but  one  all-sacred  duty, 
One  cult  to  which  the  vilest  would  adhere, 

A  perfect  love  of  pure  impeccable  beauty, 
Supreme,  immense,  sincere  ! 

The  poesy  of  broad  skies,  the  moaning  ocean, 
All  Nature's  glory,  spoke  not  to  their  souls, 

For  art  alone  they  held  sublime  devotion, 
Despising  other  goals. 

No  anthems  filled  the  air,  no  psalms  or  psalters 
Praised  the  Creator  who  had  given  them  birth  ; 

His  name  unknown  was  honored  by  no  altar 
On  this  strange,  perfect  earth  ! 


1 8  EX  TERM  IN  A  TION. 

No  voices  sang  harmonious  Te  Deums, 

No  prayerful  women  bowed  with  pious  plaints, 

No  roses  sighed  upon  the  mausoleums 
Of  long-loved  martyr  saints  ! 

The  woe  of  Christ  to  them  was  but  a  story, 
A  pleasing  myth  of  legendary  lore, 

And  in  our  God's  unique,  stupendous  glory 
These  men  believed  no  more  ! 

Then,  as  I  gazed  upon  them  in  my  dreaming, 
I  saw  a  man  with  white,  majestic  head, 

By  frantic  crowds,  from  every  by-way  streaming, 
Unto  a  grim  cross  led  ! 

Spat  on  and  stoned  in  his  severe  affliction, 
He  calmly  stood,  nor  did  his  glances  quail  ; 

Helpless,  I  saw  his  odious  crucifixion, 
Felt  every  rugged  nail 

That  tore  his  feeble  palms  and  feet  asunder, 
And  yet  he  shrank  not  in  his  pride  august, 

While  the  great  hum  of  voices  like  a  thunder 
Exclaimed,  "  His  pain  is  just  I" 


EXTERMINA  TION. 

And  all  the  throng,  the  haughty  and  the  lowly, 
Cried  :  "  Peerless  Beauty,  may  thy  will  be  done  ! 

This  wretch  upon  our  faultless  earth  all-holy 
Is  now  the  only  one  ! 

"  No  shame,  no  torture  can  be  too  unlawful 
To  free  from  his  vile  feet  the  ground  he  trod, 

For  he  who  writhes  before  us,  pale  and  awful, 
Dared  to  believe  in  God  !  " 

1877. 


20  MISREPRESENTA  TION. 


MISREPRESENTATION. 

In  desolate  dreams,  whose  memory  terrific 
Will  haunt  me  to  my  life's  unhappy  close, 

The  ghost  of  Christ,  our  Savior  beatific, 
Disconsolately  rose  ! 

Sad  years  have  flown,  but  still  to  me  are  vivid 
The  angry  fevers  in  His  piercing  eyes, 

As  He  before  me  stood,  erect  and  livid, 
But  Godlike  in  no  wise. 

The  bleeding  palms  and  feet,  the  blond  beard  tangled, 
Were  changed  not  since  the  dolorous  day  of  death  ; 

I  saw  the  thorn-pressed  brow,  the  lean  side  mangled, 
And  heard  His  hot,  quick  breath  ! 

But  marked  with  stupor  that  no  sign  of  meekness 
Dwelt  in  that  face,  still  marvelously  fair, 

And  that  His  lips  were  curled  in  scornful  weakness, 
While  no  prayer  lingered  there. 


MISREPRESENTA  TION.  21 

And  He,  whose  pure,  imperishable  glory 

The  fears  of  men  for  ages  did  assuage, 
He,  the  unique,  the  sweet,  the  salvatory, 

Stood  pallid  in  strong  rage. 

And  with  vindictive  voice  upon  me  calling, 

This  poor  Redeemer,  bartered,  murdered,  sold, 

To  me,  mute,  shivering  mortal,  an  appalling 
And  hideous  story  told, 

Which,  were  it  known,  and  could  mankind  conceive  it, 
This  strange  weird  vision  most  sublimely  sad, 

Would  fill  with  awe  the  minds  that  dared  believe  it, 
And  make  whole  nations  mad. 

For  in  this  tale  of  sacrifice  and  error, 

Monstrous  narration  of  bewildering  things, 

I  understood  at  last  Christ's  pain  and  terror, 
His  unknown  sufferings  ! 

With  words  that  scorched  like  fire  my  very  being, 

As  I  before  him  palpitantly  sighed, 
He  cried  out  loudly  :  "  Man,  thou  now  art  seeing 

One  that  was  crucified  ! 


2  2  MISREPRESEN  TA  TION. 

"  I  tell  to  thee,  and  verily,  oh  dreamer, 
By  all  the  gory  horror  of  my  brow, 

That  I,  God's  Son,  was  loftier  and  supremer 
On  earth  than  I  am  now  ! 

"  For  I,  like  thee,  once  knew  rare  dreams  Elysian, 
When,  a  pure  child,  dim  centuries  ago, 

I  first  beheld  in  sleep  a  dazzling  vision, 
And  heard  a  voice  say  low  : 

"  'Arise,  thou  chosen  of  the  Lord  !  and  ponder 
On  these  my  dictates,  upon  these  my  words.  - 

The  breath  of  Heaven  is  in  thee  ;  rise  and  wander 
Forth  among  beasts  and  birds. 

"  l Preach  unto  man  my  laws  humane  and  holy, 
For  thou  of  earth  are  not,  but  most  divine; 

Preach  on  the  gold  of  thrones,  in  hamlets  lowly, 
The  grandeur  which  is  mine. 

"  '  Be  faithful,  meek  and  chaste  ;  the  power  is  given 
To  thee  even  now  all  souls  to  blindly  sway  ; 

While  God,  omniscient  in  the  heart  of  Heaven, 
Will  guide  thee  on  thy  way. 


MISREPRESENTA  TION.  23 

'  *  More  than  a  king,  gem-crowned,  in  Syrian  raiment, 

Greater  than  worshiped  prophets  wilt  thou  be, 
For  thou  shalt  never  die,  nor  will  base  payment 
Be  even  taken  of  thee. 

"  ''Jehovah  his  proud  equal  now  doth  make  thee, 

Until  thy  glorious  mission  shall  be  done  y 
And  through  life's  gloom  his  light  will  ne'er  forsake  thee, 

Oh,  blessed,  anointed  one  !  ' 

"  Then  o'er  me  came  divinest  inspiration, 

Knowledge  and  wisdom  grew  within  my  mind, 

And  love,  like  some  delicious  revelation, 
Dawned  for  entire  mankind. 

"  And  I  went  forth  feeling  new  joys  immensely, 
For  pride  had  flown  to  my  unsullied  heart, 

And  I  revered  this  august  God  intensely, 
Of  whom  I  seemed  a  part. 

"  How  could  I  doubt,  when  sense  of  love  and  pardon 
Which  my  weak  soul  before  had  never  felt, 

With  infinite  pity  that  no  scorn  could  harden, 
Sudden  within  me  dwelt  ? 


24  MISREPRESENTA  TION. 

"  Therefore,  immaculate,  with  resignation, 
Out  to  the  traitorous  world  I  humbly  went, 

Destined  in  holy  ways  for  man's  salvation, 
Meek  and  benevolent. 

"  Yet  often,  alas!  dire  thoughts  would  vex  and  grieve  me 
What  if  all  were  an  idle  dream  or  whim  ? 

What  if  this  subtle  guardian  did  deceive  me  ? 
Why  place  my  trust  in  him  ? 

"  But  heavenly  voices,  when  these  doubts  came  o'er  me, 
Sang  faith  back  to  my  soul  and  made  it  true, 

While  radiant  hands  of  light  would  point  before  me 
The  path  I  should  pursue. 

"So,  confident,  I  trod  the  vales  Judean, 

Loved  by  the  sick,  the  famished  and  the  lame, 

While  one  incessant  eulogistic  paean 
Hailed  my  redeeming  name  ! 

"  By  all  revered,  and  fearing  no  detraction, 
Conscious  of  subtle  and  undying  powers, 

I  blessed  and  saved  with  human  satisfaction 
Among  Samarian  bowers. 


MISREPRESENTA  TION.  25 

"  The  sea  and  land  in  slavish  ways  obeyed  me, 
My  miracles  spread  hope  through  all  the  land, 

For  God  himself  was  there  to  urge  and  aid  me, 
And  guide  my  healing  hand. 

"  And  yet  I,  cynosure  of  all,  would  wonder 
Why,  if  I  were  divine,  should  common  greed 

Creep  through  my  veins,  imperiously  sunder 
And  shake  my  rooted  creed ! 

"  Why  should  I  feel,  I,  pure  and  vision-laden, 

A  ravishment,  a  yearning,  a  surprise, 
When  in  dusk  hours  some  flower-like  Hebrew  maiden 

Gazed  in  my  answering  eyes  ? 

"  I  knew  not  until  reason  proved  me  tempted, 
Then  from  the  warm  allurement  I  would  flee, 

For  God,  I  felt,  from  sin  had  not  exempted 
The  flesh,  vile  part  of  me  ! 

"  Ah  now,  while  my  poor  spirit  wanders  sphereless, 

Alone  in  incommensurable  space, 
I  still  remember  those  delicious,  peerless, 

Sweet  dreamy  days  of  grace, 


26  MISREPRESENTA  TION. 

"  When  throngs  adoring,  in  that  past  existence, 
Kissed  with  quick,  eager  lips  my  passing  hem, 

While  white  before  me  in  the  sapphire  distance 
Rose  towered  Jerusalem. 

"  Ah  !  I  recall  with  tomb-touched  memories  tender 
The  Mount  of  Olives,  and  each  fruitful  tree 

That  nursed  blithe  birds  above  the  gem-like  splendor 
Of  lakes  like  Galilee. 

"  By  Him  at  that  hour  I  was  not  forsaken, 

For  in  the  inner  essence  of  my  soul, 
Poesy's  charm  to  me  He  did  awaken, 

And  gave  me  its  control. 

"  Then  I  than  earth's  most  noble  bards  was  greater, 
And  on  my  lips  inspired  there  ever  hung 

The  unuttered  canticles  of  my  creator, 
Songs  that  no  man  has  sung. 

"  And  I  remember  those  departed  glories, 
When  Kedron's  vales  re-echoed  linnets'  songs, 

And  how  I  charmed  with  texts  and  allegories 
The  vast,  attentive  throngs  ; 


MISREPRESENTA  T10N.  27 

"  And  when  with  my  disciples,  friends  and  leaders, 
I  roamed  where  spring  had  made  Gennesaret  green, 

And  how  amid  fair  Bethany's  tall  cedars 
I  preached  my  creed  serene  ; 

"  With  John  beside  me,  Matthew,  James  and  Peter, 
The  upright  Andrew,  the  confiding  Jude  ; 

Men  whose  allegiance  and  whose  love  made  sweeter 
The  strange  life  I  pursued. 

"  And  I  recall  those  nights  when,  charmed,  I  listened 

To  music  of  soft  ugabs  and  shophars, 
While  the  blue  depths  of  calm  Tiberias  glistened 

Beneath  a  world  of  stars. 

"  Alas!  the  enchantment  passed,  while  fast  and  faster 

Continuous  evil  fell  upon  my  head  ; 
I,  the  world's  benefactor,  guide  and  pastor, 

Was  into  ambush  led. 

"  Yet  faith  had  utterly  and  blindly  filled  me, 
For  I  had  healed  with  my  caressing  touch, 

And  men  who,  were  I  powerless,  would  have  killed  me, 
Worshiped  and  marveled  much. 


28  MISREPRESENT*  TION. 

"  From  rabid  bodies  I  had  cast  forth  demons, 
And  I  amid  the  human  hordes,  elect, 

Could  purify  the  sins  of  lawless  lemans, 
And  dead  men  resurrect. 

"  No  leprous  churl,  no  wretch  consumed   of  cancer, 
No  weeping  boor  possessed  of  searching  pain, 

Spake  unto  me,  to  whom  I  did  not  answer  : 
'  Go  free  of  fear  and  stain! ' 

"And  I,  who  hearkened  to  their  prayers  and  praises, 
I,  who  had  heard  them  call,  upon  my  way, 

*  Hail  to  the  King  who  flesh  from  darkness  raises! ' 
Did  marvel  more  than  they. 

"  Then  came  the  time  when  I,  the  gentle  master, 
Was  sorely  tempted  by  the  wiles  of  Hell ; 

Disgrace,  derision  and  supreme  disaster 
Upon  my  calm  life  fell. 

"Scoffed  at  in  insolent  ways,  but  still  undaunted, 
I  reed-like  bowed  before  my  shame  unique, 

Although  my  every  step  was  tried  and  taunted, 
Although  I  could  not  speak 


MISREPRESENTATION.  29 

"  Or  curse  the  fools  that  harmed  me,  for  those  voices, 
Those  suave  seraphic  voices  I  had  heard, 

Murmured  :  'Thy  father  in  thy  strength  rejoices  ! 
Utter  no  hasty  word  !  ' 

"And  in  the  depths  of  my  great  degradation 
I  found  new  fervor  for  the  coming  strife, 

And,  hopeful,  felt  in  my  humiliation 
That  God  would  grant  me  life. 

"  So,  when  poor  Judas,  one  whom  I  had  trusted, 
One  who  had  shared  with  me  my  bread  and  home, 

One  whose  weak  brain  for  paltry  silver  lusted, 
Sold  me  to  pagan  Rome, 

"I  pitied  him,  and  pardoned  him,  and  waited, 

Knowing  I  would  receive  celestial  aid  ; 
And  with  strong  faith  intact  and  unabated 

Unto  the  Unknown  prayed. 

"  But,  shame  !  oh  shame  !  my  enemies  and  foemen 
Dragged  me  from  sweet  Gethsemane,  and  bound, 

Before  one  Pontius  Pilate,  judge  and  Roman, 
I  stood,  and  no  word  found  ! 


30  MISREPRESENTA  TION. 

"  Certain  that  he  would  haughtily  and  proudly 
Cry  :  '  Nazarene,  this  is  my  just  decree  : 

Get  thee  now  forth,  oh  holy  man  !   for  loudly 
My  voice  proclaims  thee  free  ! ' 

"  But  he,  a  timorous  hireling,  would  not  save  me, 
And  to  the  rabble  clamoring  at  his  side 

He  cried,  *  I  give  Barrabas,'  and  he  gave  me 
There  to  be  crucified  ! 

"  Then  odious  doubt  o'erwhelmed  me  swift  and  horrid. 

Was  I  abandoned  in  this  dire  distress  ? 
The  sweats  of  death  oozed  chill  upon  my  forehead, 
I  was  all  wretchedness. 

44  For  how  could  he,  this  God  superb  and  powerful, 
Take  life  like  mine,  when  he  had  said  to  me  : 

'  More  great  than  Kings  thou  shalt  be  on  the  flowerful 
Green  slopes  of  Galilee  !' 

"  No,  no  !  my  righteous  hopes  were  not  prostrated  ; 

Surely,  I  thought,  I  can  not  perish  here  ! 
Enoch,  Elijah  were  to  Heaven  translated, 

Why  should  I  foster  fear  ? 


MISREPRESENTA  TION.  31 

"  So,  blind  with  doubt  and  hideous  dread  repulsive, 
I  wept  not  when  the  crowds  that  wished  my  loss 

Dragged  me  forth  thorn-crowned,  palpitant,  convulsive, 
To  that  world-worshiped  cross  ! 

"  And  though  the  heavy,  huge  nails  rent  and  tore  me, 

Although  mine  eyes  in  agony  grew  dim, 
I  saw  the  martyr's  promise  shine  before  me, 

And  still  believed  in  Him  ! 

"  And  there  beside  rne  in  the  gloom,  repenting, 
A  thief  called  loudly  on  my  worthless  name. 

I  pardoned  him,  for  the  last  time  relenting, 
Waited,  but  no  help  came. 

"  Oh  man,  oh  man  !     I  then  called  out  in  anguish: 
'  God,  why  forsake  me  ?    Now  recall  Thy  words  ! 

"  Oh  Lama  Lama  Sabachthani,  I  languish  !" 
Hear  me  ! '  But  no  one  stirred  ! 

II  Ah  !  then  I  knew  by  lies  he  was  degraded, 

And  on  my  cheeks  there  rose  the  red  of  shame  ; 
Disgust  resistlessly  my  mind  pervaded, 
Like  a  quick  leaping  flame  ! 


32  MISREPRESENTA  TION. 

"  And  from  my  lips,  like  some  swift  loosened  torrent, 
A  withering  curse  to  Heaven,  in  my  despair, 

Unheard  of  man,  rang  out  supreme,  abhorrent, 
Upon  the  deathless  air  ! 

"  I  now  can  scorn  all  hatred  to  dissemble, 

But  I  say  to  thee,  mortal  that  thou  art, 
Its  utter  anguish  would  have  made  God  tremble, 

Had  he  possessed  a  heart  ! 

"  Gaze  in  my  pallid  face,  my  worn  eyes  tearful, 

Look  at  my  lacerated  palms  that  bleed, 
Gaze  on  my  body  scourged,  and  thin,  and  fearful, 

Thou  of  my  race  and  creed  ! 

"  And  seeing  me  here,  borne  down  by  Fate's  contention, 
Learn  from  my  lips  the  awful  truth,  that  when 

I  died,  God  gave  me  not  the  grand  ascension 
Believed  by  many  men. 

"Cast  out  of  Heaven  and  Hell,  my  woeful  spirit 
Is  no  more  great  or  less  than  thine  will  be  ; 

No  realms  of  peace  did  my  sad  soul  inherit, 
There  is  no  rest  for  me  ! 


MISREPRESENTA  TION.  33 

"Betrayed,  beguiled,  an  object  of  derision, 
For  hours  upon  the  cross  I  hung  !  In  song 

Tell  unto  men,  oh  man,  thy  truthful  vision, 
Sing  of  my  nameless  wrong  !" 


Then  the  sad  silence  of  my  vision  rending, 

I  heard  a  wail  of  terrible  despair, 
And  saw  a  hundred  spectral  hands  descending, 

Clutch  at  his  gory  hair     .....! 

'Twas  o'er  !     The  martyr  ghost  far  from  me  fluttered. 

Sighing,  I  woke,  and  gaining  thought's  control, 
Suddenly  felt  the  truth  of  all  he  uttered  ! 

And  terror  seized  my  soul  /     .     .      . 


(3) 


34  ULTIMA    THULE. 


ULTIMA   THULE. 

My  fancy  shuns  all  fair  historic  land ; 

No  white  Alhambra,  vested  by  orange  trees, 
Or  laughing  Como,  can  my  sorrow  please  ; 

For  me  Greece  is  not  fair,  Rome  is  not  grand. 

Merry  with  birds  and  buds,  each  sunny  strand 
That  I  behold  can  no  regret  appease,  - 
And  I  am  mute  before  the  glory  of  seas 

That  kiss  green  shores  where  marble  temples  stand. 

I  seek  the  landscape  of  my  dreams,  a  spot 

Scorched  barren  by  the  lightning's  lurid  blight, 
Alike  by  timorous  man  and  beast  unsought, 
Where  stars,  and  sun,  and  hope,  and  God  are  not, 
And  where  the  sad,  unalterable  night 

Is  dark  and  desolate  as  my  every  thought. 

1878. 


ABRAHAM.  35 


ABRAHAM. 

And  Abraham,  son  of  Terah,  in  distress, 
Bent  low  his  brows,  and  in  all  wretchedness 
Cried  :  "  Lo  !  I,  guardian  of  the  Jewish  nation, 
Have  cruelly  and  rashly  sent  away 
The  gentle  offspring  of  my  love  this  day 
Unto  the  bitter  desert's  desolation  ! 

"  I,  who  am  rich  in  flocks  and  many  herds, 
Have  greatly  sinned,  for,  with  unfeeling  words, 
I  Ishmael  bade  with  Hagar,  my  handmaiden, 
To  seek  Beersheba's  solitudes  of  sands, 
And  leave  the  pleasure  of  my  pasture  lands, 
With  little  bread,  with  water  lightly  laden. 

"  Far  to  the  danger  of  an  arid  tomb 

I  sent  them  mournfully,  for  Sarah's  womb, 

Gladdened  by  Isaac,  strangely  born,  was  jealous. 
Ah,  God  !  I  hearkened  to  her  and  repent  ! 
Upon  me  visit  not  thy  discontent ; 
To  save  and  free  them  now  my  soul  is  zealous. 


36  ABRAHAM. 

"  No  peaceful  calm  my  wrinkled  brows  will  bless, 
Until  the  red  and  sultry  wilderness 

Restores  to  me  the  lives  I  have  molested  ; 
Remorseful,  I  am  fain  to  kiss  their  feet, 
And  bow  before  them  in  my  woe  complete  ; 
For  days  my  guilty  conscience  has  not  rested. 

"  Oh  Ishmael,  my  sweet  son  !  I  long  to  speak 
My  whole  love  to  thee,  injured  and  most  meek 
Of  all  the  seed  the  Lord  Jehovah  sent  me  ! 
Thy  form  emaciate  in  phantasmal  light 
Haunts  me  with  starving  lips  at  dawn,  at  night. 
Hear  me,  forgive  me,  son  !  I  do  repent  me ! 

"  Like  the  wind's  ravage  in  a  field  of  flowers, 
Oh  Ishmael,  my  beloved,  in  hapless  hours 

Heartless  I  did  renounce  the  love  I  gave  thee  | 
But  now  that  thou  art  helpless  and  unclaimed, 
Now  that  my  every  fiber  throbs  ashamed, 
Ishmael,  my  child  !  I  will  depart  to  save  thee  !  " 

And  Abraham,  by  a  deep  remorse  possessed, 
Was  fain  to  hasten  in  paternal  quest 

Of  Ishmael,  and  with  diligence  he  bent  him, 


ABRAHAM.  37 

And  much  consoled  by  firm  resolve  and  trust, 
He  bowed  his  weary  brow  unto  the  dust, 
Praying  for  strength,  and  this  Jehovah  sent  him. 

And  so,  upon  that  day,  it  came  to  pass 
He  bade  his  servants  load  a  nimble  ass 
With  many  meats  and  juicy  figs  delicious, 

White  leavened  bread  and  hoards  of  golden  wheat, 
With  healing  herbs  and  gourds  of  water  sweet, 
Imploring  of  the  Lord  to  be  propitious. 

And  in  his  trembling  age  he  left  his  tents, 
Contrite  and  weeping  for  his  grave  offense, 
By  many  prayers  his  many  fears  disarming, 
And  with  him  took  unto  Moriah's  sod 
Isaac,  his  son  trained  in  the  cult  of  God, 
The  child  of  prophecy,  devout  and  charming, 

Isaac,  the  love  and  promise  of  his  eyes, 
Isaac,  his  son,  submissive,  meekly  wise, 
To  teach  with  kind  solicitude  and  tender, 

And  show  to  him  new  countries,  where  Tamar's 
Stupendous  towers  beneath  the  Orient  stars 
Shone  in  their  haughty  and  embattled  splendor. 


38  ABRAHAM. 

And  as  they  wandered  through  the  desert  wild 
He  told  unto  the  shy,  attentive  child 

Strange  legends  of  the  past  and  wondrous  stones 
Of  Noah,  the  ark  and  the  redeeming  dove, 
Of  Enoch's  faith  and  of  Jehovah's  love, 
Of  Adam's  sin  and  of  Edenic  glories. 

He  spoke  of  the  great  flood  that  marred  the  world, 
By  God  indignant  to  destruction  hurled, 

When  He  in  myriad  waters  grandly  thundered  ; 
He  told  of  Cain's  red,  bitter  crime,  and  how 
God  set  a  mark  upon  his  livid  brow, 
While  the  delighted  child  in  rapture  wondered. 

In  such  wise  were  the  weary  moments  passed, 
But  in  the  torrid  desert  scorched  and  vast 
No  sign  of  Hagar  came  upon  the  morrow, 
And  in  the  pitiless  and  blinding  sand, 
Chartless,  irresolute  and  most  unmanned, 
The  humbled  patriarch  mourned  in  direst  sorrow. 

The  path  no  more  was  clear  unto  his  eyes 
Beneath  the  intolerant  glare  of  sullen  skies. 

Aimless  as  wind-blown  leaves  he  went  and  wandered, 


ABRAHAM. 


39 


With  none  to  guide  him  on  the  ardent  way, 
The  sand  alone  around  him,  and  dismay 
Seized  his  strong  heart,  while  desolate  he  pondered. 

"  Fit  punishment  is  this  !  "  he  cried,  and  fell 
Where  death  dawned  livid  unto  Ishmael. 

"  God  has  ordained  that  I  and  mine  shall  perish  ! 
Here  in  this  waste,  parched,  destitute  and  numb, 
I  must  await  the  vengeance  that  will  come 
To  rob  me  of  the  only  son  I  cherish  !  " 

The  agonizing  thought  all  hope  dismayed  ; 
In  vain,  and  knowing  prayer  in  vain,  he  prayed, 
And  of  all  sinning  bitterly  repented  ! 

The  torrid  twilight  swooned  upon  his  pain, 
And  then  upon  the  broad  and  boundless  plain, 
Clasped  in  his  arms  the  suffering  child  lamented. 

On  acrid  herbs  and  locusts  then  they  fed, 
In  harrowing  distress  uncomforted, 

Until  even  these  with  arduous  searching  failed  him, 
And  Abram's  mind,  as  one  struck  down  by  plague, 
Wandered  in  sad  confusion  vexed  and  vague, 
While  languors  he  had  never  known  assailed  him. 


40  ABRAHAM. 

Madness  as  sudden  as  a  leaping  flame 
Burst  on  his  hoary  forehead  marked  by  shame, 
And  in  a  trance  he  heard  a  voice  mysterious 
Cry  :  "  Abram,  expiate  thy  cruel  crime  ! 
In  thy  distress  be  patient  and  sublime, 
Poor  Hagar's  voice  cries  out  in  wrath  imperious. 

"  Sacrifice  Isaac,  glory  of  thine  eyes  ! 
The  God  who  thy  fidelity  now  tries, 

Though  cruel,  still  retains  sweet  balm  of  pardon  ; 
Give  unto  him  thy  only  treasured  son, 
Isaac,  the  one  thou  lovest  to  look  upon  ; 
Before  his  frailty  let  thy  warm  heart  harden." 

And  Abram,  harking  to  the  voices,  cried  : 
"  Oh  God  !  thou  didst  unto  me  say  in  pride, 
When  in  thy  graciousness  my  soul  did  slumber, 
That  like  the  perfect  stars  that  haunt  the  sky, 
And  like  the  sand-grains  that  about  me  lie, 
My  seed  would  be  in  beauty  and  in  number  ! 

"  Yet  now  in  anguish  must  I  slay  my  son, 
The  one  I  pitifully  look  upon, 

The  guardian  of  my  future  and  my  token  ! 


ABRAHAM.  4I 

If  I  should  take  his  guiltless  life  away, 
As  Thou  ordainest  on  this  hateful  day, 
Will  not  Thy  promise,  God  august,  be  broken  ?" 

But  stronger  voices  cried  again  :  "  Obey  ! 
Obey  !     Prove  now  thy  rooted  trust  and  slay  ! 
God's  wrath  by  thy  enormous  tribulation 
Must  be  appeased,  and  by  the  awful  deed  ; 
Although  thy  father-heart  must  swell  and  bleed, 
The  sacrifice  will  gain  thee  sweet  salvation  !  " 

And  Abram  said  to  Isaac  :  "  Now  behold  ! 
By  visions  terrible  and  manifold, 

Jehovah  warns  me  that  this  hand  has  doomed  thee  ; 
Thou  must  submit  to  Heaven's  divine  decrees, 
With  joy  and  prayer,  and  on  thy  bended  knees, 
For  all  the  tempests  of  His  ire  have  gloomed  thee !  " 

Then  Isaac  lifted  up  his  weary  head, 
And  in  a  murmur,  like  a  faint  wind,  said : 

"  Weep  not,  my  father,  by  the  Great  One  chidden  ! 
Beyond  the  anguish  here  my  eyes  see  light ! 
Obey,  before  I  die  of  thirst,  and  smite  ! 
Do  thou  as  God  has  mercifully  bidden." 


42  ABRAHAM. 

But  Abram,  hunger-mad,  heard  not  his  words  ; 

Around  them  hovered  gaunt,  ill-omened  birds, 

Eager  as  he  for  flesh  and  sweet  nutrition. 

Then  on  his  son's  pale,  shriveled  limbs  he  gazed, 
And  like  a  beast  by  fiercest  famine  crazed, 
He  craved  his  blood  in  brutal  inanition. 

A  mist  of  red  arose  before  his  eyes, 
And  with  a  cry  that  would  God  agonize, 
Hot  hunger  in  his  heart  of  desolation, 
He  stood  erect  amid  the  sands  that  hour, 
With  hideous  glances,  eager  to  devour 
His  child,  his  blood,  his  Isaac,  his  salvation  ! 

And  as  the  guilty  patriarch  raised  the  knife 
To  immolate  that  pure  and  sacred  life, 
The  lips  of  Isaac  opened  and,  enraptured, 

He  cried  :  "  Oh  father,  see  !  "  and,  fear-compelled, 
He  turned  and  saw  a  struggling  ram  withheld 
By  firm  resisting  brambles  bound  and  captured. 

Then,  ravenous,  he  rushed  upon  the  prey, 
And  cruelly  and  swiftly  he  did  slay 

The  brute  appalled,  draining  his  life-blood  madly, 


ABRAHAM.  43 

And,  when  the  flesh  his  craving  did  appease, 
Bloody  and  trembling,  on  his  aged  knees 
He  fell  and  praised  the  Lord  Jehovah  gladly. 

Then  Isaac  moaned  forth  weakly  :  "  Father,  dear, 
Hath  mercy  touched  the  heart  of  God  austere  ? 
Hath  He,  omnipotent,  seen  well  to  save  me, 
Or  hath  He  done  so  for  dear  Ishmael's  sake  ? " 
And  Abram  turned  his  head  and  said  :  "  Partake 
This  food  in  ways  miraculous  He  gave  me." 


And  Abram  turned  unto  his  home  and  sod, 
And  to  the  people  there  he  told  how  God 

Had  tried  his  faith,  and  how  he  had  not  blundered. 
But  Isaac  marveled  and,  with  downcast  eyes, 
Gazed  on  his  father  with  a  strange  surprise, 
But  spake  no  word,  while  all  the  people  wondered. 

1880. 


44  MOOD  OF  SOXRO  W. 


MOOD  OF  SORROW. 

I  strolled  into  the  green  heart  of  a  wood, 
One  sunny  summer  noon,  in  quest  of  shade, 
But  all  to  me  seemed  somber  and  dismayed. 

The  trees  were  wan,  buds  bloomed  not  as  they  should; 

Nature  serene  ne'er  bore  a  darklier  mood. 
I  heard  no  sound;  bright  butterflies  arrayed 
In  gorgeous  tints  lurked  in  the  reeds  afraid; 

I  found  a  dead  bird  there,  and  understood. 

For  its  sweet  sake  flowers  droop  and  calm  winds  grieve; 
Crickets  its  funeral  song  will  sadly  drone  ; 

And  leaves  will  fall  its  tender  breast  to  shield. 
Some  friendly  spider  will  its  silk  shroud  weave, 
And,  oh  my  God!  I,  friendless  and  alone, 
See  grim  before  me  loom  the  potter's  field. 


ACCUSATION.  45 


ACCUSATION. 


SCENE. — A  roadside  in  Galilee;  Christ  with  His  Disciples  passes.     A  devil 
addresses  him,  after  having  been  cast  forth  from  a  man  possessed. 


"  So  thou  hast  cast  me  forth  and  art  elated 
To  see  me  here,  undone,  humiliated, 

And  by  thy  saintly  majesty  oppressed  ; 
I,  of  great  Satan's  acolytes  the  boldest, 
While  now  command  thou  arrogantly  holdest 

Over  the  useless  flesh  that  I  possessed, 

"Yon  odious  beggar,  haggard  and  mephitic, 
With  face  impure  and  gaunt  limbs  paralytic, 

Fetid  with  vermin,  foul  with  all  disease, 
Who  now  stands  clamoring  by  thy  mantle  loudly, 
Hailing  in  boorish  veneration  proudly 

Thy  deeds  miraculous  and  thy  prodigies  ! 

"  Thy  simple  word  from  his  base  form  expelled  me, 
Thy  hand  august  in  holy  horror  held  me, 
And  as  a  wind  that  carries  chaff  away, 


46  ACCUSATION. 

Thy  prayers  have  swept  me  from  his  bones  tormented, 
While  I,  rebellious  and  most  discontented, 
Am  forced  thy  rigorous  mandates  to  obey  1 

"  But  no  sweet  sign  of  thine  can  ever  urge  him 
To  paths  of  righteousness  again,  and  purge  him 

From  my  time-clinging  and  disastrous  stain, 
For  he  is  doomed  in  primal  sin  to  linger, 
And  the  soft  touch  of  thy  consoling  finger 

To  heal  his  tainted  soul  has  been  in  vain  ! 

"  I  was  cast  forth,  I,  Devil,  who  hate  malignly, 
Before  thine  anger  as  it  warmed  divinely, 

But  my  disgrace  is  tempered  in  its  smart; 
For  I  say  to  thee,  marvelous  restorer, 
No  grace  of  thine  can  cleanse  thy  vile  adorer, 

Or  purify  the  hell  that  holds  his  heart. 

uThe  utter  truth  of  these  my  words  thou  knowest. 
For  on  thy  brow  impassible  thou  showest 

To  me,  even  now,  a  sad,  reluctant  dread  ! 
Oh  Jesus  !  wise  and  holy  man,  elected 
By  His  decree  and  by  a  God  protected, 

How  by  my  arts  wast  thou  in  error  led  ! 


ACCUSATION. 

"Affecting  once  to  spurn  and  to  despise  me, 
With  mien  all  insolent  thou  didst  exorcise  me 

Before  the  rabble  of  the  road  and  town. 
But  tell  me,  prophet,  didst  thou  not  dissemble? 
If  not,  why  dost  thou  blanchen  now  and  tremble, 

Conscious  of  crime,  with  humble  eyes  cast  down  ? 

"  I  scorn  thy  sanctity,  supreme  and  natal, 

For  thou  well  knowest  thy  odious  fault  and  fatal ; 

Lured  by  my  wiles  a  God  thou  hast  betrayed  ! 
Better  for  thee  hadst  thou  allowed  me,  quiet, 
Within  the  carrion  of  my  choice  to  riot, 

Than   thy  sublimity  to  have  displayed. 

"For  I  tell  to  thee,  visionary,  dreamer, 
False  seer,  false  prophet,  insincere  redeemer, 

Doomed  to  my  hate  and  to  immortal  fame, 
That  thou,  like  some  frail  reed  by  tempests  stricken, 
Wilt  cower  aghast  while  all  thy  blood  will  quicken, 

When  thou  hast  heard  the  meaning  of  my  name. 

"I  was  cast  forth  by  thee,    elate,  insulting, 
But,  unabashed,  in  my  defeat  exulting, 
I  now  unto  thy  borrowed  power  reply, 


ACCUSATION. 

That  I,  than  thou,  of  future  calm  am  surer, 
That  I,  though  soiled  and  sad,  than  thou  am' purer 
That  I  immortal  am,  while  thou  shalt  die  ! 

"  To  do  my  task  allotted  I  have  striven; 
To  thee  another  grander  one  was  given, 

And  heaven  was  thine  if  thou  didst  not  betray  ; 
Now  thou  hast  sinned,  while  terrible  and  tearful 
Thy  life  will  be  in  coming  trials  fearful, 

And  this  with  joy  I  tell  to  thee  to-day  ! 

"  Ah  !  the  white  pallors  of  thy  forehead  darken  ! 
Christ,  ere  I  go,  unto  my  last  words  hearken, 

And  vex  me  with  anathemas  no  more. 
Answer,  mock  Savior,  why  didst  thou  eject  me 
From  that  low  begging  clod,  and  not  detect  me 

In  other  guise  and  cast  me  out  before  ? 

"  How,  with  thy  gifts  of  divination  glorious, 
Didst  thou  not  find  and  hurl  me  forth  victorious 

From  far  more  tainted  flesh  than  his,  the  time 
When  thou,  oh  God  !  aware  of  my  temptation, 
Didst  fail  to  scorn  hell's  subtle  intimation, 

And  fearlessly  descended  into  crime  ? 


ACCUSATION.  49 

"Thou  shrinkest  !  It  was  /who,  mute  and  wary, 
Possessed  before  the  form  impure  of  Mary, 

One  who  is  called  and  is  the  Magdalene, 
One  who  had  cloyed  thee  with  her  fond  caresses, 
Who  bathed  thy  feet  with  unguents  and  soft  tresses, 

One  on  whose  breast  thy  forehead  thou  didst  screen! 

"  Ah  !  thou  art  contrite  now  and  strangely  livid  ! 
The  sin  I  hail  upon  thy  cheeks  is  vivid  ! 

Shaken  and  dumb,  thou  hast  no  right  to  doubt ! 
In  that  vague  hour,  oh  !  guilty  mighty  Master, 
In  that  strange  hour  of  peril  and  disaster, 

Why  in  thy  strength  didst  thou  not  cast  me  out  ? 

"  What  charm  had  she  to  change  thy  sacred  mission, 
Sow  in  thy  veins  the  seeds  of  all  perdition  ? 

How  could  her  will  sd  suddenly  enmesh 
Thy  holiness  and  purity  forever, 
And  all  thy  future  happiness  dissever 

By  her  unholy  and  polluted  flesh  ? 

"  Ah  !    canst  thou  think  that  I,  grown  feeble-hearted, 
From  her  low  loins  at  thy  first  touch  departed, 
That  I  was  slavish  to  thy  will  ?   Oh,  no  ! 


ACCUSATION. 

Thy  tones  were  faltering  and  thy  passions  wandered  ; 
Too  long  upon  her  grace  thy  spirit  pondered  ; 
Thy  voice  abjuring  me  was  faint  and  low. 

"  Unnerved  and  dazzled  by  her  lissome  beauty, 
Didst  thou  with  upright  heart  fulfill  thy  duty  ? 

Was   thy   bland   soul   weighed   down    by    thoughts 

devout  ? 

Ah,  Christ  !  I  tell  thee  in  fierce  jubilation, 
Hell  dragged  thee  there  from  thy  grand  elevation  ! 

Why,  doubly  warned,  didst  thou  not  cast  me  out  ? 

"  Thou  answerest  not  !    Where  is  thy  vaunted  valor  ? 
Thy  brow  is  hueless  in  ignoble  pallor. 

Man  of  great  marvels,  thou  art  strangely  dumb. 
Thy  sin  upon  thee  as  spilt  blood  is  scarlet, 
For  thou  before  the  allurement  of  a  harlot 

In  sacrilegious  passion  didst  succumb  ! 


"  Enough  !    Thy  grouped  and  worn  Disciples  yonder 
Wonder  at  thy  delay  and  gravely  ponder  ; 
Go,  go  thy  destined  way  and  meet  thy  fates  ! 


ACCUSATION.  51 

Heal,  soothe  and  pray,  sad  object  of  my  pity, 
And  turn  thy  steps  unto  the  towerful  city, 
Where  in  the  dreamy  dusk  thy  Mary  waits. 

"  Go  to  thy  cross,  and  as  thou  goest,  teaching 
Consoling  creeds,  when  thou  thy  faith  art  preaching, 

Remember,  in  the  moaning  of  the  wind 
My  voice  will  haunt  thee  and  hell's  mocking  laughter, 
Exultant  in  its  scorn,  will  follow  after 

One  who  has  grievously  and  greatly  sinned  !" 

Feb.  /,  1879. 


52  SONNET. 


SONNET. 

I  can  not  love  the  myriad  flakes  of  snow 
That  fall  so  gently  over  mead  and  moor ; 
To  my  spleen-fostered  mind  they  are  too  pure  ; 

Their  white,  chaste  secrets  I  can  never  know. 

Dark  tides  of  discontent  within  me  flow  ; 

Such  rare  perfection  I  can  not  endure. 

That  which  delighteth  the  untutored  boor 
Leaves  me  despondent,  and  I  fain  would  go 

To  some  far  tropic  land  where  insolent  flowers, 
Gorgeously  colorful,  bloom  but  a  day, 

Where  deadly  perfumes  scent  the  torrid  air, 
And  where,  like  my  strange  thoughts,  in  snaky  bowers 
I  could  see  Nature  in  superb  decay 
Be  beautifully  rank  and  foully  fair. 

Feb.  23,  1878. 


CAIN.  53 


CAIN. 

I  roamed  the  young,  fair  earth  for  happy  hours, 
When  the  first  dawns  upon  its  grace  ascended, 
Seeking  its  virgin  secrets  unattended, 

Hailing  the  new-born  flowers. 

I  was  a  tiller  of  the  blooming  ground, 

The  proud  possessor  of  broad  meadows  vernal, 
And  in  the  doing  of  my  task  diurnal 

My  happiness  was  found. 

I  loved  my  liberal  land  where  cattle  teemed, 
My  sunny  slopes,  my  fair  and  fecund  valleys, 
And  through  the  rustle  of  my  leafy  alleys 

I  wandered  and  I  dreamed. 

My  soul  was  warmed  with  song.     I  worked  elate, 
Glad  of  my  noble  toil  and  nothing  fearing, 
My  God  august  religiously  revering, 

Conscious  that  He  was  great.. 


54  CAIN. 

Nature  was  fresh  as  I  in  those  new  days, 
And  though  my  sire  from  Eden  had  been  ejected, 
I  knew  his  sin,  and  God's  decree  respected, 

And,  knowing  it,  gave  Him  praise. 

Life  unto  me  was  utter  joy  ;  the  light 

And  splendor  of  my  vast  Creator  filled  me  ; 
The  magnitude  of  His  omniscience  thrilled  me  ; 

He  was  my  day,  my  night. 

Screened  by  His  guarding  hand,  I  lived  secure, 
I,  the  first  flesh,  born  at  the  world's  beginning, 
For  He  had  harmed  me  not  for  Adam's  sinning, 

But,  pardoning,  left  me  pure. 

Abel,  my  brother,  perfect  and  most  blessed, 
The  chosen  of  my  soul,  was  ever  near  me  ; 
His  fond,  fraternal  merriment  would  cheer  me 

When  I  was  sore  oppressed. 

And  wealth  was  mine  in  plenty,  and  I  had 

Wives,  blonde  as  swaying  wheat,  content  and  duteous, 
Caressing  sisters,  children  fair  and  beauteous, 

And  all  these  made  life  glad. 


CAIN. 


55 


And,  when  I  left  fatigued  the  furrowed  sod 

To  seek  my  home  and  gain  their  joyous  greeting, 
My  happiness  by  all  their  own  completing, 

I  knelt  and  worshiped  God. 


But  ah  !  their  gentleness  could  not  appease 

His  thirst  for  servile  prayer,  and  He  did  shun  them, 
And  on  a  day  of  wrath  did  cast  upon  them 

A  scourge  and  a  disease. 

I  could  not  quell  it,  as  they  lay  there  stark, 
But,  high  above  this  scene  of  lamentation, 
I  felt  God  reveled  in  my  desolation, 

And  all  my  soul  grew  dark. 

Doubt  dawned,  for  He,  the  omnipotent,  the  strong, 
No  longer  lent  the  beauty  of  His  blessing 
To  those  who  loved  Him,  and  in  foul  transgressing, 

I  brooded  on  my  wrong. 

«»• 

My  wrong ;  for  He  whom  I  had  much  besought, 
He  who  had  in  His  holy  image  made  me, 
Had  wrecked  my  many  prayers  and  had  betrayed  me. 

The  thought  burned  as  I  thought! 


56  CAIN. 

Forth  in  the  glades  where  I  had  slept  and  sighed, 
With  harrowing  hesitations  then  I  wandered, 
And  deep  in  soundless  solitudes  I  pondered 

On  His  preposterous  pride  ! 

I  saw  life  blooming  insolent  and  rare 

Around  me  with  a  keener,  subtler  wonder  ; 
I  saw  life  rule  the  earth  above  and  under  ; 

I  saw  life  everywhere. 

Nature  alert,  perpetually  new, 
Rose  green  before  me,  by  that  Maker's  choosing, 
And  as  I  watched  it  in  my  somber  musing, 

A  thought  stupendous  grew  ! 

"Oh  God!"  I  cried  ;  "whom  once  I  could  adore, 
I.  then  so  humble,  now  a  loyal  hater, 
Will  mar  thy  work,  most  insolent  creator, 

Now  and  forevermore  ! 

"  My  brawny  arms  will  proudly  sweep  away 

Before  thine  eyes  each  thing  on  earth  now  living, 
And  to  destroy  thy  work,  I,  unforgiving, 

Prepare  in  wrath  to-day  ! 


CAIN.  57 


"  Thy  majesty  my  soul  can  not  appall  ! 

The  tender  earth  is  young  and  unencumbered; 

All  creatures  having  life  are  known  and  numbered, 
And  I,  Cain,  know  them  all! 

"  These  will  I  slay,  my  wives  and  servants  dear, 
My  laughing  children,  and  my  welcome  brother, 
My  venerated  sire,  my  white-browed  mother, 

All,  and  without  a  tear ! 

"I  will  not  heed  the  tempting  of  a  sigh, 
To  no  compassionate  call  will  I  be  pliant; 
All,  all  shall  die  before  Thee  !     Then,  defiant, 

Before  Thee  I  shall  die  ! 

"  Yea  !  thou  shalt  look  upon  a  desert  bare, 

And  clamor  in  vain  for  praise  and  anthems  loudly, 
While  I  alone  will  live  to  answer  proudly, 

'  Thou  shalt  have  no  more  prayer  ! ' 

"  Then,  with  my  angry  insults  to  the  sky, 
Unflinchingly  my  presence  will  pursue  Thee, 
And,  when  I  choose  to  cease  to  speak  unto  Thee, 

Then,  only,  will  I  die  !  " 


5  8  CAIN. 

I  paused  and  listened  with  hot,  hurried  breath, 
Erect,  accepting  all,  alone,  firm-hearted, 
And  hearing  then  no  answering  voice,  departed 

To  give  life  unto  death  ! 

So,  for  unnumbered  days,  in  wrath  I  slew 

Alike  the  harmless  birds,  the  beasts  ferocious, 
Without  a  pang  or  pain,  in  calm  atrocious, 

As  I  had  sworn  to  do. 

The  swarming  rivers,  winding  to  far  seas, 
By  offal  foul  and  carrion  I  polluted, 
And,  by  the  mastery  of  my  hate  imbruted, 

I  felled  the  blooming  trees. 

Far  to  the  winds  I  flung  the  unrooted  seed, 

From  out  the  soil  I  tore  the  young  buds  growing, 
I  burned  the  bounteous  orchards  overflowing, 

And  I  was  glad  indeed  ! 

In  every  path  my  sateless  rages  toiled  ; 
I  moved  attended  by  all  desolation, 
And  by  the  marvels  of  my  desecration 

I  gloried  as  I  spoiled. 


CAIN. 

No  marah  then  was  mine,  and  in  my  pride 
Successful,  unabashed  and  most  exulting, 
God  at  each  step  defiantly  insulting, 

I  unto  Abel  cried  : 

"  The  Lord  hath  told  me  in  a  drearn  His  whim  ; 

Harken  therefore  unto  His  will,  oh  brother  ! 

Prepare  a  firstling  from  thy  flock,  none  other, 
And  sacrifice  to  Him. 

"  While  I,  with  offerings  gathered  from  my  trees, 
Most  humble  fruit  of  unpretending  savor, 
Will  strive  to  gain  His  providential  favor, 

And  by  my  worship  please." 

And  pious  Abel,  trusting  in  my  love, 
Glad  in  such  sacrifice  to  be  partaker, 
Did  burn  a  lamb  as  offering  to  his  maker, 

With  all  the  fat  thereof. 

Even  then,  I  say,  in  my  contempt  severe, 

Grandly,  fraternally,  I  would  have  pardoned, 
And  melted  by  my  tears  a  spirit  hardened. 

Had  I  not  known  God  near  ; 


60  CAIN. 

God,  who  had  seen  the  savory  gift  and  sweet  ; 

God,  who  was  eager  for  our  genuflection  ; 

God,  who  delighted  in  our  base  subjection, 
Our  servitude  complete  ! 

I  felt  that  He,  invisible,  was  nigh  ; 

His  great  mysterious  essence  hovered  o'er  me  ; 

I  felt  his  moody  majesty  before  me, 
And  with  a  savage  cry, 

Powerful  enough  to  awe  His  holihead, 

My  hosts  of  hate  against  Him  fast  assembling, 
Cruel,  sublime,  magnificent,  untrembling, 

I  struck  my  brother  dead  ! 

And  as  I  staggered,  with  hot  arms  defiled, 

Warm  with  the  blood  of  him  I  loved,  yet  tearless, 
Gazing  upon  the  face  of  God  and  fearless, 

I  arrogantly  smiled  ! 

"  Ah,  puny  master  !  "  I  cried  in  my  delight, 
"  Behold  this  gory  holocaust  and  nameless  ! 
Why  dost  thou  strike  me  not  as  I  stand  shameless  ? 

Tell  me,  where  is  Thy  might  ? 


CAIN.  6 1 

"  Thy  threats  are  impotent,  oh,  fallen  one  ! 
Vain,  ruthless  god  of  chastisement  and  error, 
I  scorn  Thee  as  a  worm  that  writhes  in  terror  ! 

Mark  what  my  hand  hath  done  ! 

"  Of  hideous  work,  Jehovah  most  austere  ! 

This  is  alone  the  terrible  beginning  ! 

All  upon  Earth,  the  innocent,  the  sinning, 
By  me  shall  disappear  ! 

"  Thou  art  the  slave  of  man  born  to  obey 
Before  the  tempest  of  my  wrath  indignant, 
And  now  imperiously,  oh  God,  malignant ! 

I  bid  Thee  go  Thy  way  ! 

"  No  lips  again  will  Thy  false  name  adore  ; 

Thy  power  most  irredeemably  is  broken. 

Bow  down  before  me,  for  I,  man,  have  spoken  ; 
There  will  be  life  no  more  !" 

And  as  I  spake  the  law  of  my  desire, 

Wind-like  I  sped  in  fierce  exasperation, 

Filled  with  red  visions  of  extermination, 
To  slay  my  sons  and  sire  ! 


62  CAIN. 

But  pains  mysterious,  and  by  me  unknown, 
Clung  to  my  loins  ;   I  felt  my  pulses  quicken, 
And,  by  the  laggard  hand  of  God,  I,  stricken, 

Upon  the  ground  fell  prone. 

Conscious  of  lofty  projects  overcast, 
I  lay  frenetic,  crushed,  inefficacious, 
Feeling  that  my  sublimest  dream  audacious 

Had  unto  nothing  passed. 


God  bade  me  rise,  and  on  my  brow  did  place 
A  hated  mark,  whereby  all  mortals  know  me, 
By  which  a  child  unto  a  child  can  show  me, 

An  odium,  a  disgrace  ! 

Then  to  the  land  of  Nod  upon  the  plain, 
An  outcast,  but  impenitent,  He  sent  me, 
There  to  know  agony  and  to  repent  me 

In  unattended  pain. 

I  went  rebellious  with  my  treasured  hate, 

And  sullen  through  the  desert  now  I  wander, 
But  when  upon  my  mighty  dreams  I  ponder, 

I  know  that  they  were  great ! 


POTIPHAR'S  WIFE.  63 


POTIPHAR'S   WIFE. 

In  dreams  serene  I  saw  before  me  rise, 
Fertile  and  fragrant,  by  the  lake-winds  fanned, 
Delicious  vistas  of  the  Holy  Land, 
Where  Ephraim's  vales  in  verdant  grace  expand 

Their  hallowed  beauty  to  the  ravished  eyes. 


Gerizim  reared  in  air  its  lofty  height, 
A  gleaming  maze  of  olive  boughs  and  flowers, 
Guarding  the  crumbled  mold  of  Roman  towers  ; 
While,  in  its  majesty  of  barren  bowers, 

Grim  Ebal  brooded  in  the  Syrian  night. 


Between  each  rugged  base,  in  starry  gloom, 
My  wandering  gaze  by  mystic  power  was  led 
Unto  a  mound,  with  vines  and  wild  buds  spread, 
The  sanctuary  of  immortal  dead, 

The  spot  all-holy  which  is  Joseph's  tomb. 


64  POTIPHAPS  WIFE, 

And  as  I  wondered,  in  religious  awe, 
Before  the  dust  of  that  great  patriarch,  dear 
To  Hebrew  hearts,  who,  piously  austere, 
Bearded  the  sullen  Pharaoh  without  fear, 

Musing  upon  his  blameless  life,  I  saw 

A  dolorous  ghost,  that,  uttering  low  sighs, 
Crept  near  the  tomb,  as  if  in  timid  quest, 
A  homeless  spirit,  tortured  with  unrest, 
By  some  sublime  fatality  oppressed, 

With  haggard  cheeks,  with  vague,  imploring  eyes. 

Marveling  and  mute,  I  dared  not  then  demand 
Whence  she  had  come,  or  how,  but  I  could  trace 
All  Egypt's  beauty  blooming  in  her  face, 
While,  with  a  sudden  weird  and  ghastly  grace, 

She  clasped  a  mantle  in  one  shadowy  hand. 

Its  folds  she  wound  about  her  like  a  shroud, 
And  tangled  them  amid  her  dusky  hair, 
Then  paused  and  knelt  in  agonized  despair 
Before  the  sacred  mound,  and  all  the  air 

Was  still,  while  in  her  grief  she  cried  aloud: 


POTIPHAFS  WIFE. 

"Oh  Joseph!  most  beloved  and  chosen  one  ! 
Can  not  long  centuries  of  tears  assuage 
Thy  heartless  rancor  toward  me?     Can  thy  rage 
Last  longer  than  my  misery  ?     Oh  sage, 

Oh  lover,  prophet,  what  thing  have  I  done 

"To  feel,  alas!  thy  everlasting  scorn  ? 
Must  it  eternal  through  the  ages  grow  ? 
Hast  thou  no  pity  for  my  desperate  woe, 
When  for  a  million  eves  I  bend  below 

The  potals  of  thy  callous  grave  to  mourn  ? 


"  Must  I  forever  in  the  winter  chill, 
And  sultry  summer,  answerless  implore 
Thy  pardon  for  a  wrong  that  is  no  more, 
Alas!  when  1  most  ardently  adore 

Thy  vanished  beauty  and  thy  memory  still  ? 


"  Have  no  soft  sounds  of  lamentations  mine 
The  injury  of  the  cruel  past  effaced  ? 
Am  I  in  thy  pure  soul  for  time  disgraced  ? 
Oh,  man  relentless,  phantom  sadly  chaste, 

Art  thou  in  death  than  on  earth  more  divine  ? 


66  POTIPHAR'S   WIFE. 

"See!  thy  fair  mantle  in  my  hand  I  hold, 
A  shred  of  thee,  as  sacred  as  thy  kiss, 
Far  holier  than  the  heart  of  Anubis, 
And,  though  the  joys  of  Paradise  I  miss, 

Still  have  I  clung  to  it  as  worlds  grow  old! 

"  Oh  Joseph!  though  I  suffer  for  thee  here, 
My  pain  is  sweet,  and  all  the  pangs  thereof  ! 
What  raptures  could  I  gain  in  spheres  above, 
Greater  than  my  sad,  unrequited  love, 

That  lives  while  stars  are  born  and  disappear  ? 

"  And  yet,  oh  luminous  promise  of  my  soul, 
If  thou  shouldst  waken  from  thy  tranquil  sleep, 
Which  seraphim  with  holy  vigils  keep, 
Reward  my  trust,  unfalteringly  deep, 

And  speak  one  word,  I  will  have  gained  my  goal! 

11  Recall  the  languorous  and  ecstatic  days, 
When  first  I  feasted  eyes  upon  thy  charms  ! 
How  could  I  spurn,  with  virtuous  alarms, 
The  sinewy  splendor  of  thy  robust  arms, 

Thy  god-like  brow,  and  thine  alluring  ways  ? 


POTIPHAR'S  WIFE.  67 

"Wast  thou  not  fair  and  beautiful,  while  he, 
Swart  Potiphar,  my  husband  and  my  lord, 
Awed  by  the  leaping  terror  of  his  sword 
And  jealous  brows  ?     Ah,  love  could  ill  afford 

To  spurn  for  him  the  excellence  of  thee  ! 


"  Blame  for  my  sin,  if  sin  it  be,  alone, 
The  curves  symmetric  of  thy  perfect  limbs  ; 
Blame  the  grave  music  of  Hebraic  hymns, 
The  memory  of  thy  voice  that  nothing  dims  ; 

Blame  my  frail  heart  that  could  not  be  of  stone. 

"  Blame  the  voluptuous  murmur  of  the  Nile, 
The  pomp  and  glitter  of  thy  home,  the  palm 
That  shaded  every  revery,  the  calm 
Of  torrid  star-thronged  nights,  the  gentle  balm 

Of  dreamy  wines,  but,  above  all,  thy  smile! 

"  Ah,  how  could  I  of  fervent  flesh  resist 
The  tingling  festivals  of  mad  desire 
That  held  sweet  riot  in  'me,  with  a  fire 
That  scorned  Osiris  and  the  mage's  ire, 

When,  bold,  I  languished  for  thy  lips  unkissed  ? 


68  POTIPHAR'S  WIFE. 

"  Greater  to  me  than  Phthas'  gemmed  glories  were 
The  nubile,  supple  graces  of  thy  form! 
Could  I  dispel  swift  hankerings  that  swarm, 
When  nerves  are  palpitant,  and  blood  is  warm  ? 

Could  I  gaze  on  thy  wonder  and  not  err  ? 

"  Oh  Joseph  !  hear  me  ere  I  hasten  hence  ! 
The  drowsy  night  is  failing  in  the  west ; 
Quell  the  sad  torment  of  my  harrowed  breast, 
If  thou  hast  mercy  ;  I  have  all  confessed  ; 

Grand  child  of  God,  grant  me  my  recompense!  " 


Then  in  the  vague,  gray  gloaming  I  could  see 
The  poor,  unpardoned  ghost  caress  the  mound, 
Where  envied  pity  she  had  never  found, 
Prostrate  and  humble  on  the  leafy  ground, 

Clutching  the  mantle  in  dumb  agony ! 

And  when  her  lamentations  seemed  to  cease, 
To  this  distracted  spirit,  love-denied, 
A  dull,  sepulchral  voice  at  last  replied, 
And  from  the  crypt's  deep  gloom  in  anger  cried: 

"  Away,  thou  specter  harlot,  give  me  peace!  " 


A   SOUL'S  SOLILOQUY.  69 


A  SOUL'S    SOLILOQUY. 

Soul  of  a  Sleeping  Man  Speaks. 

Life  holds  for  me  no  future  joy  or  sweetness, 
My  lofty  mission  here  below  has  failed, 
And  my  prayer's  purity  has  not  availed 
To  change  the  odium  of  my  incompleteness  ; 

No  power  above 

Will  free  me  from  the  forces  that  enmesh 
My  vital  essence  in  this  hateful  flesh, 
Which  I  am  doomed  to  love. 


My  strength  untried,  my  burning  will  and  splendor 
Must  be  forever  crushed,  despised  and  mute  ; 
For  I  am  caged  within  this  nescient  brute, 
Who  knows  my  value  not,  and  I  must  render 

Respect  and  praise 

To  his  vile  body,  guard  his  useless  breath, 
And  serve  him  slavishly  until  his  death, 
Through  sad,  eventless  days  ! 


70  A   SOUL'S  SOLILOQUY. 

The  cruel  God  that  I  revered  unjustly 

Chose  me  for  this  foul  task  from  radiant  spheres. 
I,  who  was  formed  of  vague,  extrinsic  tears  ; 
I,  atom  of  love  that  roamed  through  Heaven  augustly  ; 

I,  pure,  serene, 

Was  bidden  to  leave  His  paradise,  obey, 
And  animate  a  mass  of  senseless  clay, 
And  blend  with  flesh  unclean. 


And  when  from  mystic  realms,  with  strange  tuition, 
I  with  expectancy  sublime  had  fled, 
A  voice  like  moaning  thunders  to  me  said  : 
"  Oh  soul !  remember  well  thy  sacred  mission. 

To  the  unborn 

Give  all  thy  passion,  and  with  breath  of  flame 
Illume  the  darkness  in  that  formless  frame  ; 
Turn  chaos  into  morn  !  " 


And  I  obeyed.     Alas  !  my  will,  attendant 

On  him  for  fruitless  years,  has  striven  in  vain, 
Through  anguish  and  ungovernable  pain, 

To  make  his  name  unto  the  world  resplendent. 


A   SOUL'S  SOLILOQUY.  71 

But  his  base  mind 

Rejects  the  proffered  power  at  my  command  ; 
My  threats  or  prayers  he  can  not  understand  ; 

His  eyes  to  me  are  blind  ! 


False,  arrogant  and  vile,  my  body  wanders, 
Sinful,  redemptionless,  through  stupid  life, 
Lacking  a  virile  courage  for  the  strife, 
Knowing  me  not,  although  my  wealth  it  squanders, 

While  the  dull  years 

Creep  like  a  wounded  snake  unto  the  tomb, 
While  I,  before  inevitable  doom, 
Conscious,  await  in  fears. 


That  loathsome  being,  now  my  lifelong  prison, 
Will  nothing  dare,  atrocious  or  sublime  ! 
The  germs  of  virtue  or  the  seeds  of  crime 
Have  never  in  his  mongrel  heart  arisen, 

And  all  the  fires 

That  I  inherit  from  my  native  sky 
Fail  to  arouse  his  torpor  ;  he  will  die 
Like  his  forgotten  sires  ! 


72  A  SOUL'S  SOLILOQUY. 

And  even  in  death  I  shall  not  find  elation  ; 
No  soothing  hope  can  e'er  remain  for  me 
When  from  his  odious  corpse  I  skyward  flee, 
And  leave  him,  object  of  my  desecration, 

In  some  vile  tomb. 

His  mottled  carrion,  hated  and  unblest, 
Like  scores  of  others,  will  forever  rest 
In  obloquy  and  gloom. 


And  then,  made  free,  through  darkness  dense  and  awful 
I  must  perpetually  in  torment  roam, 
Bereft  of  any  heaven,  hope  or  home, 
Such  is  Gbd's  fiat,  cruel  and  unlawful, 

Without  a  goal, 

For  his  eventless,  sluggish  life  of  scorn 
I,  in  my  feeble  innocence,  must  mourn  ; 
I,  his  sad,  stricken  soul ! 


But,  did  he  do  some  deed  sublime  and  glorious, 
Were  he  to  die  in  some  wild,  startling  way, 
Unlike  the  common  herds  of  dross  and  clay, 

Ah  !  then,  elect,  superb,  transformed,  victorious, 


A  SOUL'S  SOLILOQUY.  73 

His  praises  I  would  sing  ! 
But  what  all-subtle  power,  when  I  have  none, 
Will  murmur  in  his  ear,  "This  should  be  done," 

And  fire  to  ashes  bring  ? 


Ah  !  I  would  give,  to  quell  this  daily  torment, 
My  immortality,  were  it  not  too  late. 
Crushed  by  the  hand  of  some  invisible  fate, 
MyJ"power  to  urge  him  lies  inert  and  dormant. 

Calm  as  the  sky, 

He  will  live  on,  this  rigid  sphinx  of  men, 
Until  Death's  hounds  bark  in  his  heart,  and  then 
In  calm  ways  he  will  die  ! 


Oh  !  I  would  fawn  in  lowly  ways  before  him, 
Could  he  on  fierce  inquisitorial  pyres, 
A  heretic,  be  burned  in  sulphurous  fires, 
And  see  the  horrid  heat-waves  circle  o'er  him. 

Then  I  could  soar 

Forth  from  his  charred  and  crackling,  quivering  flesh, 
And,  resurrect,  be  beautiful  and  fresh 
Above  the  fagots'  roar  ! 


74  A  SOUL'S  SOLILOQUY. 

For  some  wild,  bizarre  death  I  crave  and  languish, 
Ere  his  dull,  unimportant  days  are  spent ! 
Fierce  joy  'twould  lend  me,  and  unique  content, 
Could  I  but  hear  him  in  atrocious  anguish, 

As  in  my  dreams, 

Shriek  madly  unto  God  when  courage  failed, 
A  sickening  mass  of  horror,  steel-impaled, 
Where  haughty  Stamboul  gleams  ! 


Is  there  no  fate  supreme  and  beatific, 
Although  I  suffer  in  his  every  throe, 
Which  in  some  sea,  when  tempests  moan  their  woe, 
Could  drag  him  downward  in  dismay  terrific, 

Full  of  mad  murmurings, 
When,  as  he  struggled  in  a  hell  of  foam, 
I  could  leap  from  him  and  regain  my  home 
With  glad,  white  wings  ? 


No !  I  am  doomed,  and  yet,  though  hope  is  meager, 
I  fain  would  lure  him  where  some  famished  beast 
In  the  miasmal  jungles  of  the  east 

Might  loom  before  him  truculent  and  eager  ! 


A   SOUL'S  SOLILOQUY.  75 

Or  with  my  hates 

Lead  his  poor,  timorous  feet  in  utter  dread 
Among  rank  ferns  and  reeking  grass  to  tread 

Where  some  damp  cobra  waits  ! 


Oh  God,  be  merciful  !     The  days  pass  faster  ! 
Hope  dies  within  me,  and  my  wings  are  cold  ; 
He  whom  I  loathe  is  growing  blind  and  old  ; 
The  dreaded  time  has  come  of  my  disaster ; 

Oh,  God  of  might  ! 

In  pity  strike  him  with  thy  lightning  dire, 
Although  I  perish  in  its  livid  fire 
And  be  naught  in  the  night  ! 


76  EMBARRASSMENT. 


EMBARRASSMENT. 

Gaunt  wreckers  watch  the  wintry  coast  at  night ; 

The  tempest  rages  in  the  outward  gloom  ; 

Rough  men  are  praying  unto  God  to  doom 
A  vessel  struggling  with  the  ocean's  might. 

Crowded  and  kneeling  in  supreme  affright 

Upon  the  fated  ship,  a  floating  tomb, 

Vast,  helpless  throngs  are  seen  when  lightnings  lume, 
Beseeching  God  for  salvatory  light  ! 

And  He  in  highest  Heaven  doth  hear  these  prayers 
Offered  by  every  soul  with  voice  sincere, 

Who  for  his  sentence  in  distraction  waits, 
And  He,  environed  by  a  million  cares, 

Looks  on  the  scene  of  triumph  and  of  fear, 
Uplifts  his  judging  hand,  and — hesitates! 


SAMSON  AND  DELILAH.  77 


SAMSON  AND  DELILAH. 

Now  Samson  issued  from  the  tribe  of  Dan, 
And  by  his  sire  Manoah,  a  righteous  man, 
Was  loved,  ere  born,  by  heavenly  prediction  ; 
For  unto  him  the  Angel  of  the  Lord 
Appeared,  and  with  the  waving  of  a  sword 
Had  banished  from  his  tent  all  doubts'  affliction. 

And  Samson  thrived  amid  his  father's  herds, 
Alone  with  them  and  the  wild  forest  birds, 

And  he  waxed  strong,  from  merry  wine  abstaining, 
Obedient  to  his  Nazaritish  vow ; 
For  the  Lord's  benediction  on  his  brow 
In  ways  propitious  was  beheld  remaining. 

And  it  so  happened  that  no  warrior  then, 
No  valorous  leader  of  a  thousand  men, 

Ever  by  taunt  or  daring  tone  incensed  him  ; 

But  once,  while  dreaming  of  his  untried  strength, 
Stretching  his  knotted  arms  their  massive  length, 
A  young  impetuous  lion  roared  against  him. 


78  ,  SAMSON  AND  DELILAH. 

Then,  lo!  the  spirit  of  the  living  Lord 
Aroused  him  from  the  green  snare  of  the  sward, 
And  lightning-like  came  mightily  upon  him, 
And  towering,  with  resistless  power  he  rent 
The  clamorous  beast  asunder  by  his  tent, 
As  though  he  were  a  reed,  and  trampled  on  him  ! 

And  it  so  happened  and  so  came  to  pass, 
He  seized  the  ponderous  jaw-bone  of  an  ass, 
When  by  Philistine  hosts  environed  densely, 
And  with  the  thunder  of  his  battle-cry, 
Did  smite  the  sudden  assailants  hip  and  thigh, 
Until  the  ground  with  death  was  dark  intensely. 

Now,  by  such  deeds  of  valor  and  renown, 
Samson  was  feared  in  the  Philistine  town, 

Where  he  in  haughty  unconcern  would  wander, 
Pacing  with  chosen  paranymphs  the  street, 
And  with  the  fairest  woman  he  chanced  to  meet 
Would  sup  and  lavishly  his  manch  squander. 

For  Samson,  while  he  brooded  in  dull  ease, 
Was  strongly  moved  by  passion's  mysteries  ; 

His  virgin  heart  craved  sympathies  unnumbered, 


SAMSON  AND  DELILAH.  lg 

And  the  imperious,  devastating  flame 
Of  great  desires  held  their  allegiant  frame, 
Or  in  his  rebel  sinews  lightly  slumbered. 


Now  there  dwelt  within  the  Sorek  vale 
A  harlot  named  Delilah,  lithe  and  pale, 
With  starry  eyes  and  silver-studded  tresses, 

Who,  dyed  with  herbs,  paced  the  broad,  peopled  ways, 
Dancing,  or  singing  Midianitish  lays, 
Selling  the  fever  of  her  warm  caresses. 

And  she  had  longed  for  one  enamored  hour 
With  Samson,  radiant  in  his  nubile  power ; 

Languished  and  dreamed  to  win  him  and  inspire 
His  bones  with  palpitations  of  delight, 
And  through  the  dreamy  silences  of  night 
To  fill  his  veins  with  all-consuming  fire  ! 

But  he  had  spurned  her  beauty  in  its  bloom 
For  rosy  Tinnah,  in  the  woodland's  gloom, 
Ay,  on  her  lighted  threshold  had  he  scorned  her  ; 
Ay  !  though  the  spice  and  perfume  of  the  east 
Her  supple,  naked  loveliness  increased  ; 
Ay  !  though  her  pearls  and  amulets  adorned  her. 


80  SAMSON  AND  DELILAH. 

And  dull  hate  for  the  spurner  moved  her  breast ; 
His  calm  indifference,  cruelly  expressed, 

Turned  to  foul  gall  her  wakening  senses  maddened, 
And  to  draw  harm's  disaster  on  his  head, 
To  cause  him  pain,  or  see  his  valor  dead, 
Her  proud,  vindictive  spirit  would  have  gladdened. 

Now,  once  it  happened  at  patrician  feast, 
When  mirth  in  ways  unhallowed  increased, 
Delilah,  on  the  strong  man's  cushion  seated, 

Drugged  the  spiced  food,  and  Samson,  love-entranced, 
Upon  the  charms  he  had  forsaken  glanced, 
Laughed  in  his  beard,  and  wooed  her,  and  entreated. 

Therefore  unto  her  home  she  lured  him,  where 
Wrapt  in  the  perfumed  mantle  of  her  hair, 
He  lay  in  languid  love's  divine  prostration, 
Moved  to  his  mighty  soul  by  love's  excess 
And  all  the  roses  of  her  loveliness, 
Kissing  her  eyes  in  silent  adoration. 

But  while  in  troubled  ravishment  he  slept, 
The  alert  Philistine  haters  near  him  crept, 
With  glittering  bribes  down  laden,  to  discover 


SAMSON  AND  DELILAH.  8l 

The  mystery  that  filled  their  souls  with  awe, 
And  by  her  lecherous  sorcery  to  draw 
The  dreaded  secret  from  her  dreamy  lover. 

But,  flushed  by  soft  excesses  and  her  hate, 
Nude  and  disheveled,  then  she  bade  them  wait, 
With  promises,  until  the  hour  propitious, 
And  with  the  silver  pieces  given,  returned 
Where  Samson  lingered,  and  in  revery  burned, 
To  taste  again  her  shameless  kiss  delicious. 

And,  lo  !  it  happened  that  her  Samson  came, 
Proud  neophyte  of  love,  once  more  to  claim 
Of  her  embraces  the  delicious  honey, 

And  with  him,  in  youth's  exaltation,  brought 
Tunics  and  veils  by  skillful  fingers  wrought, 
Brilliant  with  gems  and  burdened  with  much  money. 

And  she  said  to  him  :  "  Tell  me,  little  sun, 
Sweet,  sun-like  Samson,  pray  what  might  be  done 
To  tame  thy  lion  strength,  oh,  radiant  giant  ? 
Tell  me,  I  beg  of  thee  ! "     And  he  did  speak  : 
"  Bind  me  with  withes,  and  then  shall  I  be  weak, 
Ay,  like  a  lamb,  most  pitiful  and  pliant." 


82  SAMSON  AND  DELILAH. 

So  when  he  slept,  she  bound  him,  and  she  called 
Unto  her  cringing  acolytes  appalled  : 

"  Behold  !  the  man  is  bound  and  slaved  by  slumbers." 
But,  as  they  crept  upon  him,  he  arose, 
Shook  off  the  shackle  of  sleep  and  with  sharp  blows 
Fell  on  them  there  and  slew  them  in  great  numbers. 

And  pale  Delilah  in  her  anger  cried  : 
"  Behold  !  thou  much  hast  mocked  me  and  hast  lied  ! 
Tell  me  then  freest  truth  that  I  may  cherish  !  " 
And  Samson  said  :  "  Oh,  summer  of  my  hopes, 
If  I  be  bounden  with  unsullied  ropes, 
Then  will  my  boasted  valor  wane  and  perish." 

Again  on  her  exultant  breast  he  slept  ; 
Again  the  eager  chieftains  toward  him  crept ; 
By  dire  distrust  and  coward  fancies  shaken, 
Seeing  him  helpless  in  his  dormant  pride, 
While  with  alarming  voice,  Delilah  cried  : 
"  Philistines  are  upon  thee,  Samson  !  Waken  !  " 

And  he  leapt  forth  in  wonderment  and  wrath, 
Sweeping  through  shields  a  desolating  path, 
Cleaving  the  serried  ranks  like  flax  asunder, 


SAMSON  AND  DELILAH.  83 

And  o'er  the  clashing  armor  of  his  foes, 
Above  the  slaughter  and  the  fury,  rose 
His  clarion  voice,  defiant,  like  a  thunder  ! 


But  hate  had  made  Delilah's  spirit  strong, 
And  with  her  jests  she  lashed  as  with  a  thong 
His  patience,  till  he  cried  in  indignation  : 
"  If  I  should  lose  my  flowing  locks,  ah  !  then 
Indeed  shall  I  be  like  all  other  men, 
Of  equal  might  in  strength  and  emulation  !  " 

Then  multitudes  of  angered  warriors  came 
To  seize  the  hostage  of  Delilah's  shame, 

For  with  sly  cunning  she  had  caught  and  taken 
The  rough  and  tangled  forest  of  his  hair, 
And  Samson,  all  unmanned,  lay  pinioned  there, 
And  was  by  the  Almighty  Lord  forsaken. 

Nerveless  and  mute  with  grief,  they  dragged  their  prize 
Up  to  the  town,  and  burned  his  haughty  eyes, 
Proud  of  his  sullen,  utter  desolation, 

Laughing  to  see  the  phantom  of  their  dread 
Unto  the  prison  by  a  stripling  led, 
Glad  of  his  woe  and  hideous  hesitation. 


84  SAMSON  AND  DELILAH. 

The  angry  populace  clamored  for  his  life, 
And  many  a  javelin  and  glittering  knife 

Flashed  danger  in  the  phalanxes  around  him, 
But  he  was  doomed  to  be  the  people's  slave, 
Unworthy  of  the  solace  of  a  grave, 
And  with  huge  fetters  of  strong  brass  they  bound  him. 

Now,  as  the  days  in  slow  procession  passed, 
His  mutilated  locks  grew  long  at  last, 
And  with  them  dawned  again  his  virile  splendor, 
And,  in  unspeakable  distress  he  prayed 
Unto  Jehovah  for  celestial  aid 
To  smite  the  intolerant  pride  of  his  offender. 

And  it  so  happened  that  Philistine  hordes 
Gathered  together  full  a  thousand  swords 
To  offer  savory  sacrifice  to  Dagon, 
A  hideous  image,  a  bejeweled  clod, 
Who  of  their  sinful  destinies  was  god, 
And  who  was  worshiped  by  the  rabble  pagan. 

And  loud  within  his  temple  did  they  come, 
Rejoicing  with  the  timbrel  and  the  drum, 
While  minnims  and  melodious  sabecs  quivered, 


SAMSON  AND  DELILAH.  85 

Praising  the  high,  commandant  god  whose  power 
Had  saved  the  nation  in  its  sorest  hour, 
And  who  to  them  had  such  a  foe  delivered. 


And  when  their  hearts  were  gladdened  by  strong  wine, 
They  bade  Delilah  with  a  haughty  sign 

Seek  shackled  Samson,  in  his  prison  stricken, 
And  by  his  monstrous  helplessness  to  make 
Exciting  sport  of  him  for  Dagon's  sake, 
And  with  derisive  jibes  their  pleasures  quicken. 

So  she,  Delilah,  servant  unto  this, 
Came  unto  Samson  with  a  traitress  kiss, 

And  of  their  sovereign  commandment  told  him  ; 
Thus,  once  again,  leading  the  cruel  way, 
Her  irritating  arm  upon  him  lay, 
Ay,  one  spell  more  did  her  soft  arms  enfold  him. 

And  he  spoke  to  her  :  "  Oh,  Delilah,  sweet ! 
I  pray  thee  linger  at  my  weary  feet ; 

Remember  my  past  love  and  have  this  pity." 
And,  as  he  murmured,  crushed  by  his  despair, 
Exultant  laughter  shook  the  perfumed  air, 
Re-echoing  at  the  gates  and  in  the  city. 


86  SAMSON  AND  DELILAH. 

And  he  was  placed,  with  curses  and  hard  blows, 
Between  two  mighty  pillars  that  arose 

High  to  the  domes,  and  false  Delilah  near  him 
Agged  his  distress  with  languid  serpent  words, 
While  the  wine-laden  lords  in  boisterous  herds 
Taunted  his  weaknesses  and  failed  to  fear  him. 

Then  Samson,  in  a  tumult  of  despair, 
Bent  low  his  brows  in  majesty  of  prayer, 
And  called  unto  the  Lord  in  his  prostration  : 

"  Great  God  sublime,  who  madest  the  green  earth, 
Whose  will  omnipotent  hath  given  me  birth, 
Eternal  God  of  infinite  creation  ! 

"  Remember  me,  I  pray,  oh  Holy  One  ! 
Forgive,  forget  the  wrongs  my  hands  have  done  ! 
Strengthen  this  faltering  arm  that  would  obey  Thee ! 
Strengthen  this  wretched  clay  that  worships  Thee  ! 
Strengthen  my  soul  that  hungers  to  be  free  ! 
Receive  it,  oh  omniscient  God  !  I  pray  Thee  !  " 

Then  he  arose  and,  comforted,  he  cried  : 
"  Delilah,  oh  Delilah  !  thou  hast  lied  ; 

Thou,  of  this  hated  race  the  boldest  harlot  ! 


SAMSON  AND  DELILAH.  87 

It  was  thy  kiss  that  lured  me  to  this  doom, 
It  was  thy  flower-breath  that  hath  made  my  tomb, 
Ay,  'twas  thy  beauty  robed  in  vexing  scarlet ! 

*  'Twas  thy  gold  flood  of  tresses  steeped  in  spice, 
Thy  lying  lips,  thy  warm  breasts  that  entice, 
That  led  me  from  the  solitude  I  cherish. 

Thou,  thou  alone,  with  thy  god-tempting  face, 
Hast  brought  me  to  disaster  and  disgrace  ! 
Pray  now  \  pray,  pray,  even  now,  for  thou  shalt  perish  !  " 

And  then  he  bowed  himself  with  all  his  might 
Between  the  mammoth  pillars,  and  the  sight 

Filled  with  fast  fear  the  thousand  there  assembled. 
"Receive  my  soul,  oh  God  !  "  he  loudly  cried, 
While  the  vast  temple  cracked  from  side  to  side, 
And  the  great  dome  with  ominous  thunder  trembled. 

Then  down  from  dizzy  height  the  ponderous  weight 
Fell  on  the  doomed  Philistines  of  his  hate  ; 
Fell  on  the  men  whom  God  to  him  delivered, 
And  in  the  gloom,  the  horror  and  dismay, 
Crushed  by  his  side  the  false  Delilah  lay, 
While  at  her  bleeding  throat  his  hand  still  quivered  ! 

April,  /<?//. 


88  WORSHIP. 


WORSHIP. 

I,  faithful,  can  not  in  a  God  believe 
Who  in  majestic  ways  will  be  revered, 
When  I  am  dead  and  shall  have  disappeared, 

Before  whose  altars  men  unborn  will  grieve. 

To  my  God  giving,  from  Him  I  would  receive, 
I  being  in  jealous  moods  and  fashions  reared, 
And  crave  to  pray  to  One  divinely  feared, 

One  unto  whom,  when  timorous,  I  can  cleave. 

If  such  be  worshiped  by  the  common  throng, 
To  me  It  is  not  God,  for  I  desire 

Some  Thing  immense,  omnipotent,  alone, 
Some  Vagueness  nameless  in  my  feeble  song  ; 
Some  Power  of  splendor,  fury  and  of  fire, 
Some  mystic  wonder  to  the  world  unknown 

1879. 


GOD'S  ENNUI.  89 


GOD'S  ENNUI. 

I  am  the  Lord  and  Master  over  all ; 

In  me  the  essence  of  creation  lies  ; 

I  will,  and  from  dim  chaos  life  will  rise  ; 
The  comets  at  my  bidding  pass  or  fall. 

I  awe  the  timid  spheres  ;  my  whims  appall 
The  wondering  stars  that  beautify  the  skies, 
And  the  dull  insect,  man,  who  cowers  and  cries 

Upon  the  earth,  gives  homage  at  my  call. 

But  weary  of  my  unquestioned  powers  I  grow, 
Feeling  at  times  that  I  could  gladly  see 

The  worlds  I  have  created  swoon  and  fade, 
Annihilated  by  a  single  blow  ; 

And  then  again  I  often  long  to  be 

The  lowliest  worm  that  I  have  ever  made  ! 

June,  1880. 


90  DISCONTENT. 


'  DISCONTENT. 

Roses  may  weary  of  their  suave,  rare  scent ; 

If  the  apparent  azure  of  the  sky 

Were  really  fair,  would  white  clouds  hurry  by? 
The  songs  of  birds  may  be  for  Death's  ear  meant. 

The  brook  perchance  may  moan  its  discontent, 
And  tremulous  leaves  wave  litanies,  to  try 
In  these  mute  ways  to  move  the  power  on  high, 

And  by  such  sad  appeal  make  God  relent ! 

If  Nature  grieves,  supremely  unsatisfied, 
Waiting  in  vain  the  paradise  of  decay, 

I  will  not  in  life's  desert,  seeing  this  wrong, 
Spaniel  to  unjust  powers  and  please  their  pride, 
Having  no  heart  to  sing  their  praise  alway, 
I,  who  am  crushed,  poor  Ishmael  of  song  ! 


CURIOSITY.  91 


CURIOSITY. 

The  patient  stars  that,  luminously  strong, 
Lavished  on  earth  their  sad,  reluctant  light, 
The  sullen  sun  doomed  to  be  ever  bright, 

The  weary  moon  we  rhapsodize  in  song, 

Will  cry  aloud  some  day  :  "  What  unknown  wrong 
Have  we  committed  in  Thy  august  sight, 
Oh  God  most  just,  omnipotent  and  right  ? 

How  long  must  we  now  serve  Thee,  ay,  how  long? 

"  We  weary  of  the  ceaseless  flow  of  years 

That  bring  no  change,  and  we  are  fain  to  die, 

Born  with  the  essence  of  the  faith  that  saves." 
Then,  echoing  through  the  voids  of  endless  space, 
A  hollow  voice  of  thunders  will  reply : 

"Peace,  wretched  atoms,  know  that  ye  are  slaves  !" 


92  JUDAS. 


JUDAS. 

Once,  when  with  fever  of  unrest  I  slumbered, 

Wearied  by  shadowy  fancies  without  aim, 
Uncertain  dreams  and  vague  alarms  unnumbered, 
Before  mine  eyes  there  came 

The  semblance  of  a  spirit  most  mysterious, 

A  presence  whose  approaching  breath  was  warm, 
A  shape  that  stood  before  me,  stern  and  serious, 
Taking  a  human  form. 

Its  lofty  brow  seemed  seared  by  sin's  excesses  ; 

A  deathly  pallor  blanched  a  haggard  face, 
While  supplicating  eyes  beneath  long  tresses 
Lighted  the  brow's  disgrace. 

Yet  in  its  troubled  gaze  was  purely  shining 

A  consciousness  of  undisputed  right, 
Suffering  perchance  beyond  all  earth's  divining, 
But  fearless  of  the  light. 


JUDAS.  93 

The  misty  shadow  silently  drew  near  me, 
And,  while  in  fear  tumultuous  I  stirred, 
It  whispered  gently :  "  Nay,  do  thou  not  fear  me, 
But  hearken  to  my  word. 

"  I,  a  despised  and  deeply  injured  spirit, 

Who  ne'er  of  justice  have  beheld  the  ruth, 
Who  upon  earth  man's  deathless  hate  inherit, 
Come  to  reveal  the  truth. 

"  Races  and  worlds  by  death  are  urned  and  embered, 

Since,  living,  Judah  has  shuddered  at  my  name, 
And  it,  alas  !  is  even  to-day  remembered 
With  loathing  and  with  shame  ! 

"  I  have  been  wronged  with  perfidy  infernal, 

And  none  have  dared  my  memory  to  defend, 
And,  through  dead  centuries  that  seemed  eternal, 
On  earth  I  found  no  friend. 

"  For  I  am  Judas,  the  presumptive  traitor ! 

But  shrink  not  for  thy  virtues  so  unpriced  ; 
I  come  as  humble  supplicant,  not  as  hater, 
I,  who  sold  Jesus  Christ ! 


94  JUDAS. 

"  I  come  to  thee,  not  as  I  am  in  spirit, 

But  with  the  odious  form  on  earth  once  mine, 
Not  as  the  clod  who  can  all  feuds  inherit, 
But  Judas  the  Divine! 

"  Ay !  and  with  these  thrice  pardoned  lips  to  tell  thee 

The  story  of  my  infamy  and  wrong, 
And  the  attentive  world  will  not  repel  thee, 
If  thou  art  pure  and  strong. 

"  For  I  am  guiltless  of  the  dire  disaster 

By  which  all-holy  Christ  to  doom  was  led ; 
I  purely  worshiped  my  immortal  master ; 
For  Him  I  would  have  bled. 

"  I  loved  his  words,  that  made  my  spirit  sweeter  ; 

My  soul  was  free  from  any  taint  of  guile  ; 
I  was  the  brother  and  the  friend  of  Peter, 
And  lived  in  Jesus'  smile  ! 

"  I,  the  poor  Kerioth  sinner,  beggar,  dreamer, 

Had  gained,  oh  envied  goal !  his  hallowed  love, 
Than  love  of  shining  seraphim  supremer, 
Love  purer  than  a  dove  ! 


JUDAS.  95 

"  For  I  was  happy  in  the  vales  Judean, 

Where  one  and  all  his  gentle  glance  could  claim, 
And  when  I  hearkened  to  the  ceaseless  psean 
That  hailed  his  august  name, 

"  When  we  together  walked  by  joys  elated, 
That  even  no  sad,  ulterior  torment  mars, 
While  over  us  his  blue  home  scintillated 
With  majesties  of  stars  ! 

"And  where  he  told  us  of  the  Heavenly  wonders 

Which  we,  if  pure  of  spirit,  would  behold, 
How  we  should  hear  God's  grand,  melodious  thunders 
In  radiant  towns  of  gold  ! 

"  And  I  recall  his  allegories  tender, 

How  we  should  mutely  suffer  for  God's  sake, 
While  the  Samarian  moon  in  flawless  splendor 
Haloed  the  murmuring  lake. 

"  Ay  !  and  my  whole  soul  with  a  rapture  nameless 

Yearned  to  make  perilless  his  wandering  life, 
And  save  the  Son  of  God,  alone  and  blameless, 
From  outrage  and  all  strife. 


JUDAS. 

"In  those  most  consecrated  days,  oh  mortal ! 

In  those  indelible  and  perfect  hours, 
To  heal  the  stricken  at  the  city's  portal, 
I  had  my  Master's  powers  ! 

14  Ay,  the  rare  boon  unto  my  brothers  given, 

To  combat  pain,  to  comfort,  to  allay, 
To  heal  the  maimed,  when  all  in  vain  had  striven, 
And  send  them  on  their  way  ! 

"  And  more,  oh  man  !  I  was  so  greatly  cherished 
That  Christ  the  common  purse  unto  me  gave, 
To  aid  the  poor  who  on  the  high  roads  perished, 
To  fortify,  to  save. 

""  And  thus  o'er  fruitful  valley  lands  we  wandered, 

Through  bastioned  towns  and  desert  wastes  of  sand, 
While  at  each  step  the  Savior  paused  and  pondered, 
Blessing  the  favored  land. 

"  But  ah  !  there  came  a  day  of  doom  impendent 

To  me,  in  strangest  manner  unforeseen, 
When  first  I  saw  in  loveliness  transcendent 
Mary,  the  Magdalene  ! 


JUDAS.  97 

"  Her  loosened  tresses  in  their  uncurbed  splendor, 

A  stream  of  gold  like  ripe  and  wavy  wheat, 
Fell  o'er  her  bosom  palpitant  and  tender 
To  kiss  her  sandaled  feet. 

"  And  the  soft  eyes  whose  mutable  effulgence 

Caused  my  dumb  heart  to  flutter  in  surprise, 
Filled  with  all  mercy  and  with  all  indulgence. 
Were  like  my  Master's  eyes  ! 

"  And  I  adored  her  in  my  uncouth  fashion, 

And  wooed  her  love  with  all  my  love  new-born, 
With  timid  questionings,  with  ardent  passion, 
With  heart  and  bosom  torn. 

"  And  her  mute  answer  to  my  prayer  ambitious 

Thrilled  me  with  rapture's  all-consuming  flame, 
While  from  her  lips,  oh,  ecstasy  delicious  ! 
The  sweet  avowal  came  ! 

"  And  then,  impatient,  urged  by  fears  mysterious, 

I  long  implored  her  on  my  bended  knee 
To  cross  the  wavy  darkness  of  Tiberias, 

And  make  her  tent  with  me. 
(7) 


98  JUDAS. 

"And  she,  to  every  whim  conceived,  consented, 

Ay  !  to  all  plans  my  fevered  fancy  drew, 
But  I  was  poor,  and  grievously  lamented, 
Knowing  not  what  to  do. 

"Ah  then,  O  man,  from  no  chagrin  exempted, 

Blind  by  my  passion,  scourged  by  passion's  rod, 
/,  by  the  Lord  omnipotent  was  tempted, 
Ay,  by  the  living  God  ! 

"  He  came  unto  me  in  my  sad  prostration 
And  cried  :  '  Iscariot,  hearken  and  obey  ! 
If  thou  aspirest  to  thy  soul's  salvation, 
Jesus  thou  must  betray  ! 

'  '  Here  will  thou  suffer  in  the  hopes  thou  leadest, 

Here  wilt  thy  life  be  piteous  to  foretell, 
But  if  my  most  supreme  command  thou  heedest. 
In  heaven  thy  soul  shall  dwell !  ' 

"  And  then  with  this  omniscient  will  superior 

I  struggled  while  I  walked  and  while  I  slept, 
Growing  by  doubts  and  passion  each  day  wearier, 
Ay,  wearier,  as  I  wept  ! 


JUDAS.  99 

"  *  Surely  ! '  I  cried,  bewildered,  '  oh  !  most  surely 

God  hath  ordained  to  try  my  soul  undone; 
He  will  protect  my  Christ  who  slumbers  purely, 
Jesus,  who  is  His  son  ! 

"  *  I  can  obey  Him,  gaining  sweet  salvation, 

And  fly  with  radiant  Mary  unalarmed, 
While  God  will  strengthen  Him  in  His  probation, 
And  leave  His  soul  unharmed  !  ' 

"  This  I  resolved  that  day  of  dire  disaster, 

When  walking  with  my  brethren,  side  by  side, 
I  went  to  sup  with  my  beloved  Master, 
And  sat  me  by  His  side. 

"  And  he  spake  to  us,  when  we  were  assembled: 

'  One  of  you  present  will  betray  me  here  !  ' 
And  then  I  murmured  gladly,  though  I  trembled: 
'He  knows  and  hath  no  fear  ! 

"  '  He  has  divined  my  thought,  and  knows  Jehovah 

Has  chosen  me  now  His  wishes  to  obey; 
He  knows  His  father's  mandate,  and  moreover 
That  I  am  to  betray  ! 


ioo  JUDAS. 

"  '  And,  when  the  deed  is  done,  He,  on  the  foemen, 

Who  dread  His  holihead  with  nameless  dread, 
Ay,  on  the  cohorts  and  the  rabble  Roman, 
Will  nameless  terror  spread  !  ' 

"  My  h,eart  grew  firmer;  I  could  doubt  no  longer; 

My  tortured  soul  found  infinite  content, 
And  to  the  grave  Sanhedrim,  calmer,  stronger, 
With  hurried  steps  I  went. 

"And  there  I  asked  :   'What  sum  will  ye  give  to  me, 

If  I  deliver  and  hand  unto  you 
My  Master,  who  hath  chosen  to  pursue  me, 
My  Master,  Christ,  the  Jew  ?' 

"  And  they  together,  in  hushed  exultation, 

Did  covenant  with  me  in  silent  shame 
For  thirty  silver  pieces  of  the  nation, 

If  I  should  do  that  same. 
I 

"  And  my  sad,  timorous  soul  awoke  delighted  ; 

Peace,  peace  had  lulled  its  tempest  at  the  last ; 
I  saw  the  daring  future  unaff righted  ; 

My  doubts,  my  dreams  were  past  ! 


JUDAS.  ioi 

"  And  strengthened  by  fair  Hope's  restoring  manna, 

Seeing  the  world  more  beautiful  and  fair, 
I  hurried  forth  with  many  a  glad  hosanna 
To  meet  my  Mary  there ! 

"  Amid  a  tumult  of  delight  I  told  her 

That  night  to  await  me  in  a  secret  place, 
And  was  exalted,  purified,  made  bolder 
By  her  divine  embrace. 

"  Then  from  the  town  than  hunted  camels  faster, 
To  Kedron's  brook,  free  from  perplexing  care, 
I  followed  secretly  my  pensive  Master, 
And  saw  Him  kneel  in  prayer. 

"  Ay  !    I,  the  aspiring  Jew,  the  sad  fanatic, 

Witnessed  the  holy  silence  of  the  place, 
While  the  attendant  moon  with  beams  ecstatic 
Silvered  His  upturned  face  ! 

"  And  by  me  through  the  forest-tangles  guided 

Came  eager  hundreds  of  his  enemies, 
Cravens  and  priests,  who  had  His  word  derided, 
Elders  and  Pharisees  ! 


102  JUDAS. 

"  Officers,  hurried  from  the  Temple's  porches, 

Hirelings,  with  staves  made  ready  to  assail, 
Soldiers,  with  flashing  swords,  and  spears,  and  torches, 
Soldiers  of  Rome  in  mail  ! 

"  And  low  they  whispered:      *  Traitor,  we  have  'missed 

him  ! 

No  such  a  one  as  Christ  has  sought  this  dell  !' 
But  I  cried  out:    '  Hail  Master  !'  and  I  kissed  Him  ; 
Then  upon  Him  they  fell  ! 

"  And  He  said:  'Wherefore  dost  thou  now  betray  me, 

Oh,  Judas,  my  disciple  above  all  ? 
Why  did  my  watchful  brethren  not  delay  me, 
Or  answer  to  my  call  ?' 

"  And  I  said  to  Him  :     '  Was  not  this  predicted  ? 

Didst  thou  not  know  thy  Heavenly  Father's  will  ? 
Why  in  this  hour  of  power  standst  thou  afflicted  ? ' 
And  His  white  lips  were  still  ! 

"  But  ah  1  He  gazed  a  moment  strangely  on  me, 

A  look  of  wonder,  pity  and  dismay, 
And  with  averted  eyes  that  seemed  to  shun  me, 
He  then  was  led  away. 


JUDAS.  103 

"  So  unto  me  came  Andrew,  Jude  and  Thomas, 

Urging  me  then  to  leave  the  sullied  spot, 
For  priests  had  given  them  sacerdotal  promise, 
That. they  would  harm  Him  not. 

"  And,  being  assured  their  council  diabolic 

Would  be  frustrated  by  the  guarding  Lord, 
Knowing  Christ  sacred,  pure  and  apostolic, 
I  left  the  desolate  sward. 

"  Still  marveling  at  the  wonderful  enigma, 

My  body  a  fire,  my  brain  a  seething  mist, 
But  freed  by  God's  own  word  from  any  stigma, 
I  hastened  to  the  tryst, 

"  And  then  my  vision,  my  doubt,  my  deed  narrated, 

To  radiant  Mary  in  all  haste's  alarm, 
And,  by  impatient  longings  enervated, 
Seized  her  reluctant  arm. 

"But  she  in  anger  and  great  wrath,  indignant 

Cried  :  'Christ,  thy  friend,  my  Savior  and  my  goal, 
Did  hurl  from  me  vile  hosts  of  fiends  malignant, 
And  purified  my  soul  ! 


104  JUDAS. 

1 '  I  love  Him  in  His  pride  and  in  disaster, 

I  love  the  very  pebbles  he  has  trod, 
I  love  Him  as  a  man  and  as  a  master, 
I  love  Him  as  my  God ! 

" '  I  lied,  I  lied  to  thee,  oh  Hell's  own  traitor  ! 

When  to  my  lips  the  words  of  passion  came  ; 
I  love  Him  as  a  lover  ;  as  a  hater 

I  hate  thee  and  thy  shame  ! 

"  '  He  said  to  me  :  "Thy  sins  are  all  forgiven  !  " 

He  said  to  thee  :  "  Judas,  thou  wilt  betray  !  " 
And  now,  destroyer,  from  all  mercy  driven, 
Away  !     Away  !     Away  ! ' 

"  Frenzy,  remorse,  delirium  satanic 

Possessed  me  in  my  infamous  despair  ; 
I  knew  naught,  as  my  pulses  throbbed  in  panic  ; 
I  raved  and  rent  my  hair ! 

"  And  then,  oh  sacrifice  most  superhuman  ! 
I  shrieked  aloud,  oblivious  to  her  hate  : 
'  Oh  Mary,  Mary  Magdalen  !  oh  woman  ! 
//  is  not  yet  too  late  ! 


JUDAS.  105 

"'Swear  unto  me  by  all  thou  boldest  holy, 

By  God's  august,  impenetrable  brow, 
That  thou  wilt  follow  me  and  be  mine  solely, 
And  I  will  save  Christ  now.' 

"And  she  gasped  :  'Go,  and  here  will  I  await  thee, 
But  none  can  know  how  my  poor  heart  will  bleed, 
Nor  how  my  outraged  womanhood  can  hate  thee 
For  this,  thy  foulest  deed  ! ' 

"Then  to  the  stern  Sanhedrim,  panting,  livid, 

I  flew,  nor  did  my  tireless  effort  cease 
Until,  with  loud  appealing  voice  and  vivid, 
I  begged  the  Lord's  release. 

"  And  oh  !  the  anguish  of  atonement's  sorrow  ! 
None  then  would  listen  to  my  frantic  cries  ; 
No  sympathy,  no  justice  could  I  borrow 
By  menaces  or  sighs. 

"  And  maddened  by  their  answers  emblematic, 

With  indignation  and  despair  I  burst, 
And  cried  aloud  in  threatening  tones  emphatic  : 
*  Take  back  your  coin  accursed  ! 


106  JUDAS. 

1  *  I  will  not  keep  this  silver  foul  and  tainted  ; 

The  barter  of  my  conscience  is  unpriced  ; 
I  see  my  sin  !  I  have  betrayed  my  sainted, 
All- holy  Master,  Christ  ! 

" '  But  ye,  who  fear  His  parables  pacific, 
His  holy  teachings  that  can  never  die, 
Ye,  who  reject  His  godhead  beatific, 
Are  wretcheder  than  I ! ' 

"  And  then  I  ceased  to  blame  them  or  implore  them, 

While  they  gazed  on  me  in  sore  disarray, 
But  hurled  the  shining  pieces  downrbefore  them, 
And  turned  my  feet  away. 

"  Unarmed  and  crushed,  and  scorning  even  pity, 

Calmly  to  waiting  Mary  I  did  go, 
While  she,  in  anguish  clamoring,  sought  the  city, 
And  left  me  to  my  woe. 

"  And  as  I  wandered,  desolate,  pathetic, 
Alone  on  earth,  without  a  love  or  tie, 
I  cried  :    4  Oh  God  !  recall  thy  words  prophetic  ! 
I  am  about  to  die  ! ' 


JUDAS.  107 

"  And  where,  in  glory,  near  the  calm  lake  glowing, 

The  mellow  moon  most  radiantly  shone, 
I  chanced  upon  a  fig-tree  thereby  growing, 
And  hanged  myself  thereon  ! 

****** 

"Now  learn,  oh  man  !  that  after  I  had  perished, 

I  suffered  for  all  previous  sinning  done, 

Like  other  men  who  sin,  but  I  am  cherished 

And  pardoned  for  this  one  ! 

"  It  was  God's  will,  and  I,  His  slave,  obeyed  it. 

It  was  His  stern  commandment ;  I  obeyed. 
It  was  His  wish,  and  I  was  called  to  aid  it, 
And  I  did  give  my  aid. 

"  Tell  unto  men  that  I  am  no  deceiver ; 

Tell  them  my  wrong,  my  pardon  and  my  pain, 
And,  as  thou  art  no  more  my  unbeliever, 

Purge  my  good  name  from  stain  !  " 


Then  in  my  dream,  from  which  all  doubt  was,  banished, 

The  phantom  upward  slowly  seemed  to  soar, 
And  with  a  smile  ineffable  it  vanished, 
And  it  was  seen  no  more. 


io8  JUDAS. 

But  as  I  shuddered  in  supremest  terror, 

And  while  still  marveling  and  mute  I  lay, 
Persuaded  of  my  fancy's  awful  error, 
I  heard  Iscariot  say  : 

"  Friend,  I  am  now  beyond  the  earth's  affliction  ; 

I  speak  unto  thee  from  a  heavenly  strand, 
While  Christ,  our  Savior,  gives  me  benediction, 
And,  smiling,  holds  my  hand !  " 

April,  1881. 


MOSES  ON  SINAI.  109 


MOSES   ON  SINAI. 

A    Woman  Speaks. 

And  Aaron    said  unto  them  :  Break   off  the  golden  ear-rings  of  your 
wives  and  of  your  daughters,  and  bring  them  unto  me. — Exodus  xxxii;  2. 

Forth  unto  Horeb  in  my  mighty  sorrow 
I  hastened,  seeking  everywhere  the  bland, 
Calm  face  of  Moses,  absent  from  the  land 

Now  forty  days,  and  from  his  laws  to  borrow 
Justice,  and  speedy  vengeance  from  his  hand  ; 

Moses,  who  walked  to  meet  his  awful  Master, 
Alone  among  dull  thunders,  face  to  face, 
He  who  could  give  me  fortitude  and  grace 

To  bear  the  burden  of  my  fell  disaster, 

He  who  could  crush  the  haughty  and  the  base. 

And  forth  o'er  crags  granitic  to  entreat  him 
I  went,  with  blurred  eyes  and  disheveled  hair, 
Goaded  by  all  the  serpents  of  despair, 

Yet  knowing  not  if  I  should  chance  to  meet  him, 
High  in  the  mountains,  lost  in  saintly  prayer. 


no  MOSES  ON  SINAI. 

But  where  the  misty  and  rugged  cliffs  had  ending, 
Fresh  from  .the  look  of  God,  erect  and  white, 
And  most  exultant  by  His  sound  and  sight, 

I  saw  his  venerable  form  descending 

With  sere  brows  haloed  in  seraphic  light. 

The  glory  of  the  unknown  was  on  him  beaming, 
Safe  from  the  mystery  whose  name  alarms, 
Safe  from  the  terror  of  malignant  harms, 

And  as  he  came  upon  me,  pale  and  dreaming, 
He  held  two  tablets  in  his  withered  arms. 


Filled  with  sublimest  awe  and  inspiration, 
He  gazed  upon  me  with  bewildered  eyes, 
On  me,  the  interruption,  the  surprise  ! 

But  in  the  torment  of  my  desolation 

I  heeded  not,  and,  fearless,  spake  this  wise  : 

"  Oh  Moses  !  my  hushed  wrongs  can  stay  no  longer  !     ; 

Oh  most  revered  one  !  harken  to  my  plea  ! 

Before  thy  matchless  majesty  my  knee 
Bends  down,  but  now  my  hardiness  grows  stronger. 

Oh,  Moses  !  Moses  !   harken  unto  me  ! 


MOSES  ON  SINAI.  ill 

"  Know,  I  am  Helia,  for  thou  canst  not  know  me, 
A  woman  of  the  Levi  tribe,  distressed, 
And  by  thy  brother,  Aaron,  sore  oppressed. 

Oh,  grand  justiciary  of  our  people  !  show  me 
Thy  law  and  light,  and  honor  my  behest  ! 


"  To  call  on  thee  I  have  not  hesitated 
Up  Sinai's  hollow  fastnesses  to  plod. 
I  have  sought  thee  in  the  presence  of  thy  God, 

And,  daring  all,  to  beg  thee  venerated,, 
To  smite  and  chastise  Israel  with  thy  rod. 


"While  thou  wast  absent  in  these  wilds  ferocious, 
Know  that  the  thousands  in  thy  care  have  spurned 
The  living  God,  and  have  with  anthems  turned 

To  worship  idols  bestial  and  atrocious, 

And  for  false  gods  have  insolently  burned. 

"  His  altars  are  cast  down  !     They  love  another, 
A  heavy  clod  of  senseless,  speechless  gold  ! 
The  wolves  are  many  in  Jehovah's  fold, 

And  every  heart  by  thine  irreverent  brother 
To  misery  and  damnation  has  been  sold. 


112  MOSES  IN  SINAI. 

"  Thy  impious  Aaron  who  from  duty  falters, 
The  pagan  Levite,  the  anointed  priest, 
In  orgy  obscene  and  many  a  loathesome  feast 

Hails  Apis  now,  and  Mnevis,  on  thine  altars, 
And  sacrifices  to  them  herb  and  beast. 


"  By  stern  decrees  implacable  and  cruel, 
By  threats  and  awful  glitterings  of  glaives, 
He  has  compelled  us  all,  the  free,  the  slaves, 

To  render  up  our  every  golden  jewel  ; 

Our  wealth  and  hoardings  the  new  fiend-god  craves. 


"  Oh  Moses,  redolent  of  God  !  molested 

By  my  weak  cries,  listen  !     Thy  brother  said: 
'  Let  all  the  rings  and  all  the  bracelets,  spread 

Through  Israel,  from  the  men  and  maids  be  wrested 
To  form  an  image  mighty  and  hallowed  !' 

"  And  oh  !  my  precious  rings  were  taken  from  me, 
My  darling  jewels,  yea,  dearer  than  mine  eyes, 
Although  I  filled  the  camp  with  claims  and  cries  ; 

Foul  Aaron's  hirelings  strove  to  overcome  me 
And  tore  from  out  mine  ears  the  bleeding  prize, 


MOSES  IN  SINAI.  113 

"  The  priceless  gift  of  my  sweet  lover  cherished, 
The  pledge  and  cunning  handiwork,  alas  ! 
Of  him  who  engraved  the  tabernacle's  brass, 

Its  gold  and  silver,  which  ere  now  have  perished, 
Doomed  in  the  idol's  sateless  maw  to  pass  ! 


"  Bezale'el,  he,  than  all  the  people  wiser, 

The  chosen  of  God,  the  wondersmith,  whose  art 
And  beauty  waved  love's  essence  to  my  heart; 

He,  the  miraculous  and  skilled  deviser, 

Who  toiled  for  God  and  not  the  common  mart, 


"  My  life  and  love  rest  in  the  rings  he  gave  me  ! 

They  were  my  all,  his  promise  and  my  hope  ! 

Must  I  in  pain  unutterable  grope  ? 
Oh,  Moses  !  from  my  dawning  madness  save  me  ! 

Against  my  loss  I  can  not,  can  not  cope  ! 


"  Dearer  were  they  to  me,  since  he  arrayed  me 
Proudly  in  all  the  burnished  charm  thereof, 
Than  future  years  of  sweet,  connubial  love, 
More  than  the  child  unborn  that  he  has  made  me, 

More  than  the  God  who  hears  me  from  above. 
(8) 


H4  MOSES  IN  SINAI. 

"Yet  he,  my  lover,  flouts  me  and  accuses 
My  faithlessness  with  harsh,  unfeeling  tone  ; 
He  cries,  deaf  to  my  innocence  alone  : 

'  Helia  !  thou  soldst  them  gladly  !'  and  refuses 
To  call  my  love  and  body  again  his  own. 


"  Why  dost  thou  stand  there,  Moses,  dumb  and  awful  ? 

The  God  thou  hast  left  will  curse  thy  senile  sneer  ! 

Wilt  thou  not  answer  me,  grim  man  austere  ? 
Speak,  moody  patriarch  !     Is  thy  silence  lawful  ? 

Thou  dealst  out  justice  ;  deal  it  to  me  here  ! 

"  Oh,  saintly  insensate  mortal,  unimpassioned, 
I  say  to  thee  that  Israel,  gone  astray, 
Is  forced  thy  brother's  mandates  to  obey, 

And  he,  all-guilty,  with  his  palms  has  fashioned 
A  golden  calf  and  worships  it  to-day  ! 

"Thy  nations  bow  before  its  glitter  odious, 
They  scoff  at  thee  and  thine  eternal  trust, 
And  with  degrading  cries  of  mirth  and  lust 

They  hail  it  on  soft  lyres  and  lutes  melodious, 
Dancing  around  it  to  thy  God's  disgust !" 


MOSES  IN  SINAI.  115 

Then  as  I  foamed  upon  him,  t>reathless,  haggard, 

Moses  the  meek  incredulously  smiled, 

And  said  :     "  Thou  dreamest,  woman  most  defiled  ! 
By  thee  my  faith  fraternal  is  not  staggered. 

Go,  go  thy  way,  poor  maniac  beguiled ! 

"  Thy  soul  with  vagrant  fancies  thou  enslavest. 
Fare  to  the  temple  and  thy  God  adore 
On  humble  knees,  and  all  His  grace  implore. 

If  yet  thou  canst,  go,  woman,  for  now  thou  ravest." 
And,  gazing  upon  his  tablets,  spake  no  more. 


Then,  in  tumultuous,  angered  desperation, 
Incensed  by  such  inflexible  disdain, 
I  clutched  him,  by  my  sorrow  made  insane, 

And,  with  loud  groans  and  sobs  of  indignation, 
I  cursed  his  hoary  beard  and  brows  again. 

And  with  the  strength  of  multitudes  in  madness 
I  dragged  him  up  through  sheer  and  rocky  ways, 
Far  on  chill  Sinai's  summits,  where  they  raise 

High  toward  the  stars,  and,  with  a  heart-felt  gladness, 
I  pointed  down  and  bade  the  prophet  gaze. 


n6  MOSES  IN  SINAI. 

There,  on  the  spacious  plain,  the  sun  descending 
Flooded  with  lingering  rays  the  impious  throngs 
Of  Israel,  who  had  wrought  my  woes  and  wrongs, 

The  Israel  led  from  bondage,  fiercely  rending 
The  air  with  vile  and  sacrilegious  songs  ! 


There,  in  the  fertile  valley,  had  assembled 

The  noblest  tribes,  with  twenty  thousand  tents, 
To  worship  in  their  pagan  insolence, 

While,  rising  o'er  the  sea  of  heads  that  trembled, 
The  Calf  of  Gold  gleamed  in  magnificence ! 

And  Moses,  seeing  it  clearly,  smote  his  forehead, 
And,  having  scorned  my  warning  word,  the  sage 
Held  high  within  his  hands  God's  holy  gage, 

And,  with  anathemas  severe  and  horrid, 

Hurled  down  toward  earth  the  tablets  in  his  rage  ! 

And,  stammering,  pale,  his  outraged  spirit  broken, 
He  stood  and  groaned  his  sorrow  forth  in  sighs 
That  mingled  with  my  loud,  exulting  cries, 

While  in  an  anguish  left  by  man  unspoken 
The  rebel  tears  gushed  slowly  from  his  eyes. 


MOSES  IN  SINAI.  117 

But  I  was  unappeased  and  cried  unto  him, 
Glad  of  his  misery  :     "  Art  thou  yet  content  ? 
Wilt  thou  believe  me  now,  oh,  prophet  sent? 

Ah  !  I  demand  thy  brother's  blood  ;  pursue  him  ; 

Give  me  the  high  priest's  carrion,  maimed  and  rent!" 


And  as  I  shrieked  in  throes  of  rage  infernal, 
Upon  the  shattered  tablets  of  my  God, 
Lying  in  fragments  on  the  holy  sod, 

Writ  with  the  finger  of  the  Lord  eternal, 
I  fearlessly  and  arrogantly  trod  ! 

"  To  me,  oh  Moses !  how  can  thy  wrath  matter  ? 
Thou,  aided  by  thy  God,  canst  by  a  word 
Disperse  and  slay  yon  unrepenting  herd, 

And  to  the  sands  their  bones  felonious  scatter, 
But  I  from  vengeance  ever  am  deterred  ! 

"  What  moots  it  to  me  that  thy  faith  is  lost  thee 
For  one  brief  span  ?     God  will  not  let  thee  fall ; 
Thy  sudden  advent  will  the  camp  appall, 

The  shadow  of  pain  for  one  fleet  hour  has  crossed  thee  ; 
Thou  canst  restore  thy  calm,  but  /  lose  all  ! 


n8  MOSES  IN  SINAI. 

"  All  /  all !  for  in  that  camp,  I,  chill  and  clamoring, 
Was  seized  and  was  despoiled  of  my  rare  worth, 
While  Aaron  watched  me  in  contemptuous  mirth, 

And  loudly  scoffed  my  sobbing  and  my  stammering, 
He  the  most  despicably  vile  of  earth  ! 

"And  there,  bound  tight  with  cords,  cast  down,  rebelling, 
He  forced  me  to  that  very  altar's  side, 
And  made  me  worship  my  lost  pledge  and  pride, 

Fused  with  the  rest,  while  in  my  bosom  swelling 
His  keen  laugh  pierced  me,  mute  and  terrified ! 

"  Oh,  Moses  !  Moses  !  let  thy  grave  heart  harden 
Toward  these  vile  recreants,  and  their  rites  consume  ; 
Cast  them  to  death,  to  torture  and  to  gloom  ; 

Tear  from  thy  soul  the  fragile  seeds  of  pardon. 
Moses  !  thy  duty  tells  thee  thou  must  doom  !" 


And  Moses  harkened  to  my  objurgation  ; 

He  calmed  my  wrath  with  benedictions  rare ; 

He  pacified  and  blessed  me  with  a  prayer  ; 
And  we  went  down  to  stay  the  profanation, 

And  Israel  at  our  coming  trembled  there. 


MOSES  IN  SINAI.  H9 

Upon  the  people  castigations  fearful 

Fell,  and  woe  wandered  swiftly  through  the  land, 
And  at  the  patriarch's  supreme  command 

A  thousand  guilty  heroes  grew  plagued  and  tearful, 
"  For  God  did  strike  them  with  His  mighty  hand." 


For  Moses  took  the  hated  calf  and  burned  it, 
And  mixed  therewith  foul  water  till  it  stank, 
And  though  the  tribes  in  loathing  from  it  shrank, 

Begging  for  grace,  and  irritated  spurned  it, 
The  law  was  law,  and  stricken  Israel  drank. 


Then  through  the  camp  each  man  in  bloody  labor 
Did  slay  his  brother,  and  each  brother  slew 
His  boon  companion,  smiting  through  and  through, 

And  each  companion  smote  his  cherished  neighbor, 
As  it  was  fit,  and  as  God  bade  them  do  ! 


And  I,  avenged  by  blood,  in  exultation 

Stood  near  to  Moses,  witness  of  this  shame 
And  righteous  torture  by  the  sword  and  flame 

That  fell  upon  this  God-afflicted  nation  ; 
I  saw  it  all,  and  found  no  word  of  blame. 


120  MOSES  IN  SINAI. 

Now  in  my  tent,  alone,  but  calm  and  cheerless, 
Like  some  weak  tigress  that  has  lost  its  mate, 
Brooding  in  tranquil  ways  upon  my  fate, 

Most  satisfied  at  heart,  and  very  fearless, 
The  wrath  of  sullen  Aaron  I  await ! 


AD  SUM  MUM  DEUM.  121 


AD   SUMMUM    DEUM. 

If,  oh  God,  thou  art  eternal, 
Most  omnipotent,  supernal, 
Spare  us  from  life's  pains  diurnal  ! 

Burning  with  doubt's  torrid  fever, 
I,  poor  worm  and  unbeliver, 
Ask  of  thee,  supreme  Deceiver, 

Wherefore  in  such  ways  distress  me  ? 

If  thou  art  Jehovah,  bless  me, 

Or  with  proofs  of  power  impress  me  ! 

How  can  I  respect  thy  glory, 

When  through  years  of  myth  and  story 

Thou  appearest  stern  and  gory  ? 

Can  the  throngs  of  souls,  o'ertaken 
By  thy  wrath,  by  thee  forsaken, 
Love  and  faith  in  men  awaken  ? 


122  AD  SUM  MUM  DEUM. 

Can  we  call  thee  just  and  blameless, 

When  by  thy  desertion  shameless 

We  still  groan  here  blind  and  aimless  ? 

If  thy  glory  could  attain  to 
Heights  of  pardon,  and  disdain  to 
Curse  thy  creatures  who  are  fain  to 

Love  thee  in  devotion  artless, 

Thou  couldst  make  the  wide  world  smartless, 

God  malignant,  dumb  and  heartless  ! 

For  thy  Son's  divine  prediction, 
Must  weak  mortals  in  affliction 
Wait  another  crucifixion  ? 

Why,  if  he  has  died  to  spare  us 

From  all  torments,  shouldst  thou  bear  us 

Hate  implacable,  and  dare  us 

In  our  wretchedest  prostration, 
With  thine  anger's  desolation  ? 
Are  we  not  of  thy  creation  ? 


AD  SUM  MUM  DRUM.  123 

If  the  sun  and  stars  thou  makest, 
If  supreme  the  spheres  thou  shakest, 
If  from  naught  thou  something  takest, 


Prove  it  to  us,  though  thou  rend  us 
In  divine  ways  and  tremendous. 
Thrill  us  with  thy  might  stupendous  ! 

For  we  scorn  thy  clamorous  thunder  ; 
When  thou  tearest  clouds  asunder, 
We  but  smile  and  do  not  wonder. 

Dost  thou  deem  thy  puny  lightning, 

Madly  hurled  through  heaven  and  brightening 

Voids  of  space,  is  our  dread  heightening  ? 

No  !  we  sneer  ;  oh  God  prolific  ! 
If  thou  art  immense,  omnific, 
Find  some  emblem  more  terrific 

Than  thy  flame  and  detonation, 
To  o'erawe  with  grand  probation 
Men  who  scorn  death's  castigation  ! 


124  AD  SUM  MUM  DRUM. 

Oh,  Jehovah,  glad  or  cheerless, 
Armored  in  my  doubt  and  tearless, 
Unto  thee  I  cry  out,  fearless  ! 

If  thou  wishest  I  should  render 
Tribute  to  thy  questioned  splendor, 
I,  a  worm  and  an  offender,. 

From  the  sin  that  here  betrays  me, 
From  the  depths  of  ennui  raise  me, 
By  the  wings  of  white  hope  daze  me  ! 

If  thou  givest  one  poor  token, 

That  the  words  thy  Son  hath  spoken 

By  thee  never  shall  be  broken, 

I  exultant  bells  will  ring  thee, 

And  with  loud  voice  I  will  sing  thee 

Psalms,  and  to  high  altars  bring  thee 

Flowers  and  incense  to  adore  thee, 
In  my  mind  as  God  restore  thee, 
And,  repentant,  bow  before  thee  ! 


OMNIA  POSSEDENS.  125 


OMNIA   POSSEDENS. 

A   Spirit  Speaks. 

Among  the  spirits  of  God's  predilection 
I  am  and  have  been  most  supremely  blest  ; 
I  am  the  one  complete,  the  chosen  and  best, 

The  only  one  of  absolute  perfection  ! 

Others,  bewildered  by  the  strength  that  bore  them, 
Hold  mighty  tasks,  yet  humbly  follow  me 
As  satellites  their  suns  o'er  land  and  sea, 

But  I,  the  vague  and  privileged,  ignore  them. 

For  the  bold  flower  of  my  great  elevation 
Bloomed  from  the  chaos  of  incipient  earth  ; 
Before  the  stars  my  wonderment  had  birth  ; 

My  power  began  at  the  sublime  creation. 

And,  offspring  of  a  grandeur  all-transcending 
The  subtle  essence  of  all  blight  and  stain, 
So  long  as  air  holds  birds  and  fields  give  grain, 

I  shall  exist  and  never  know  an  ending. 


126  OMNI  A  POSSE  DENS. 

God  hath  this  much  ordained  by  mandates  glorious, 
And  I,  his  slave,  implicitly  obey, 
While  on  dark,  tireless  wings  from  night  to  day 

I  soar,  my  mission  to  fulfill,  victorious  ! 

All  that  is  feminine  in  Nature's  beauty, 

All  that  conceives  and  bears  I  have  possessed ; 
No  more  than  restless  waves  have  I  known  rest ; 

Grand  defloration  is  my  gift,  my  duty  ! 

In  wondrous  dreams,  in  ecstasies  of  slumber, 
All  womankind  has  felt  my  thrill  divine  ; 
Virginities  in  trillions  have  been  mine, 

And  countless  ages  can  not  name  the  number. 

Sweet  hosts  of  purity  I  have  touched  and  tainted, 
And  unto  me  for  one  brief  span  belonged 
Each  thing  productive  that  the  world  has  thronged, 

The  hideous,  vile  and  low,  the  fair,  the  sainted  ! 

Receptively  unconscious,  every  maiden 

Born  to  this  sphere  beneath  my  kiss  has  bent, 
Yet  unaware,  in  drowsiest  content, 

That  by  my  fervor  she  was  fed  and  laden. 


OMNI  A  POSSEDENS.  127 

Some  wake  at  girlhood's  passionate  beginning, 

Filled  with  strange  whims  that  make  the  dull  flesh 

glad; 
But  they  know  not  the  blighting  dream  they  had, 

They  can  not  fathom  their  celestial  sinning. 

No  prayers  or  pleas  have  left  them  unmolested  ; 

All  once  must  feel  my  crude  seraphic  lust ; 

Omnipotence  so  wills,  obey  I  must, 
And,  murmurless,  obeying,  have  not  rested. 

And,  since  the  awful  advent  of  the  ages, 
Before  creative  God  his  plans  combined, 
In  every  atom-world  my  soul  can  find 

The  transient  traces  of  its  amorous  rages  ! 

Invisible,  impalpable,  erratic, 

I  cull  the  bud  of  love  upon  each  breast ; 
Red,  holy  lips  are  ravaged  and  caressed, 

White  forms  are  warmly  held  in  bonds  ecstatic. 

And  like  a  south  breeze  with  sweet  fragrance  teeming, 
That  robs  a  rose-core  of  its  dawning  charm 
So  gently  that  it  fosters  no  alarm, 

I  leave  my  sullied  flesh-flowers  calmly  dreaming. 


128  OMNIA  POSSEDENS. 

Each  seed  and  plant  that  God  on  earth  hath  lavished 
I  woo  and  win  in  infinite  delight, 
And,  in  the  solemn  pauses  of  the  night, 

By  me  their  modest  redolence  is  ravished. 

The  distant  suns,  the  stars  serene  and  stainless, 
Atom  and  insect,  fish,  and  brute,  and  bird, 
Alike  are  made  submissive  to  my  word 

When'er  I  visit  them  in  languor  painless. 

And  in  the  spirit-seas  of  germs  prolific, 

Domain  of  marvels  veiled  and  blurred  to  man, 
Whose  feeble  sight  their  splendors  can  not  span, 

I  roam  unquestioned,  worshiped,  beatific ! 

For  I  lend  life,  like  God,  and  my  caresses, 
Discreetly  foul,  bring  forth  divine  results  ; 
Nativity  in  fearlessness  exults  ; 

I  am  the  spoiler  that  no  thing  oppresses  ! 

Imposing  shades  and  lights,  that  have  existence 
Beyond  the  bounds  of  space,  know  life  and  love  ; 
I  hold  the  vague  virginities  thereof  ; 

Unto  my  claims  they  offer  no  resistance  ! 


OMNIA  POSSEDENS.  129 

And  when  I  hear  men  cry  in  proud  elation  : 
"This  woman  I  love  is  mine,  and  only  mine  ! " 
My  lips  are  curled  in  laughter  saturnine, 

For  they  know  not  my  dominance  and  station. 

Learn,  oh  ye  rash  and  kiss-enraptured  lovers, 
That  she  ye  worship  as  a  fleshy  shrine, 
The  loved  one,  rose-mouthed,  plastic  and  divine, 

Was  mine  and  is  ;  my  breath  around  her  hovers. 

Her  beauteous  body  is  my  slave  ;  I  use  it. 
There  is  no  secret  in  her  burning  form 
I  have  not  mastered  when  with  passion  warm, 

And  she  is  repossessed  when  I  so  choose  it. 

Cleopatra  in  my  bold  embraces  reveled  ; 

Before  lewd  Faust  I  loved  blonde  Marguerite  ; 

I  bathed  the  brows  of  Beatrix  the  sweet, 
My  fire-kiss  lingered  in  her  hair  disheveled. 

All  women  who  fill  man's  mind  with  admiration, 
The  chosen  of  history  that  none  forget, 
Semiramis,  Virginia,  Antoinette, 

Helen  and  Ruth,  were  mine  in  fond  prostration. 
(9) 


130  OMNIA  POSSEDENS. 

Naught  sacred  is  exempted,  for  the  Powers 
That  gave  me  being  haughtily  ordained  : 
"  Go  on  thy  way,  and  leave  no  thing  unstained  ! 

Sully  the  fruits,  the  blossoms  and  the  flowers  ! " 

And  I,  with  jubilance  complete  and  nameless, 
Obey  the  insolence  of  these  commands, 
Speeding  unwearied  through  unnumbered  lands, 

To  soil  all  purities  by  men  held  blameless. 

I  choose  the  winning  hour  when  beauty  dreaming 
Awaits  the  coming  lover  with  soft  sighs,' 
And  I  delight  to  note  the  half-closed  eyes, 

And  all  the  mystic  ardors  gently  teeming. 

Morbid  and  mute,  warm,  fragrant  and  erotic, 
She  lies  in  drowsy  trances  of  desire  ; 
Then  I,  to  quench  her  ample  bosom's  fire, 

Appear,  appease,  allay,  in  all  despotic  ! 

The  sad  and  cloistered  nun,  who  strives  to  sever 
The  bonds  of  love  and  all  that  makes  life  fair, 
Whose  pallid  lips  are  ever  parched  by  prayer, 

In  spite  of  missal  and  psalm  is  mine  forever. 


OMNI  A  POSSEDENS.  131 

And  when  the  heats  of  fancy  brand  and  burn  me, 

No  modern  Messalina,  silk-arrayed, 

By  haughty  nonchalances  can  evade 
The  fury  of  my  vast  desires,  or  spurn  me. 

For  I  have  portion  in  all  things  created  ; 

My  fecund  breath  has  vivified  dead  spheres  ; 

Yet,  ah  !  through  wild  eternities  of  years 
I  wander  still,  unsatisfied,  unsated  ! 

Men  praise  me  unaware,  and  many  a  nation 

Bows  low  before  the  holy  name  of  one 

I  sent  to  save,  adoring  thus  my  son, 
Christ,  born  of  me,  the  world's  supposed  salvation. 

And  as  years  pass  in  fructuous  progression, 
My  labors,  all  incessant,  thrive  and  grow, 
And  I,  whose  empire  none  can  overthrow, 

Yearn  more  and  more  for  limitless  possession. 

For  often,  alas  !  when  other  loves  have  sued  me, 

Fair  virgins  die,  immaculately  free, 

Buried  in  clay  or  in  the  moaning  sea, 
And,  countenanced  by  Death,  escape,  elude  me. 


132  OMNIA  POSSEDENS. 

Then  I,  the  germ-god,  puissant  and  imperious, 
Must  fly  to  rend  the  stillness  of  their  tombs, 
And  in  the  sepulchers'  phantasmal  glooms 

Regain  my  ravished  rights  in  ways  mysterious. 


Yet  I,  the  lord  of  all,  cry  out  in  anger  ; 

One  being  hath  life  I  can  not  call  my  own, 

One  miracle,  one  essence,  one  alone, 
One  that  I  crave  for  in  delirious  languor. 

In  her  the  roots  of  all  things  fair  are  blended  ; 

She  deigns  to  be,  impeccable,  sublime  ; 

And  since  God  murmured,  "Let  there  now  be  time," 
She  has  existed,  procreant  and  splendid. 

And  I,  oh  shame  !  I,  who  should  be  partaker, 
Feel  that  her  form  I  never  shall  possess  ; 
For  she  in  all  her  infinite  stateliness 

Is  loved  by  God,  my  master  and  my  maker  ! 


LAZARUS.  133 


LAZARUS. 

I  dwelt  in  sunny  Bethany  contented, 

Master  of  fertile  lands  and  orchards  rare, 
Housed  with  my  sister  Mary,  who  was  fair, 
And  Martha,  who  revered  me  as  a  prayer, 

While  naught  the  peace  of  my  calm  mind  tormented. 


The  golden  bees  among  my  hives  were  many, 
My  flowers  and  fruit  were  paid  in  Roman  gold; 
The  cattle  and  sleek  sheep  within  my  fold 
Were  sought  from  distant  Carmel  to  be  sold, 

And  of  annoying  care  I  had  not  any. 


Honored  by  all,  and  free  from  moods  of  sadness, 
I  spent  in  courteous  trade  my  pleasant  days, 
With  bond  companions  in  delightful  ways, 
And,  like  a  bird  loved  by  the  jocund  rays 

Of  happy  spring,  I  passed  the  days  in  gladness. 


134  LAZARUS. 

Ah!  I  was  blest  indeed,  for  then  the  stately 
And  gentle  form  of  Christ  did  grace  the  land! 
Christ,  who  could  heal  and  solace  with  his  hand, 
Christ,  the  benign,  the  marvelous,  the  bland, 

Who  claimed  me  as  his  friend  and  loved  me  greatly. 


And  he  in  winning,  simple  ways  had  told  me 
That  I  and  all  my  house  were  joys  to  him, 
That  he  would  gratify  my  every  whim, 
And,  that  until  my  earthly  eyes  grew  dim, 

He  would  sustain,  and  strengthen,  and  uphold  me. 

His  love,  made  manifest  by  proofs  diurnal, 

Each  hour  more  fervent  and  enduring  seemed, 
And  I,  confiding  in  all  wonders,  deemed 
That  he  whose  light  celestial  on  me  beamed 

Would  grant  me  life  delicious  and  eternal. 

And  knowing  it,  glad,  I  smiled  at  mournful  morrows, 
Childishly  trusting  in  his  word  and  might, 
And  as  I  prayed  below  the  stars  at  night, 
I  felt  he  loved  me,  and  in  deep  delight 

I  warned  away  the  phantoms  of  all  sorrows. 


LAZARUS.  135 

But  on  a  day  malarious  ills  came  o'er  me, 

While  Christ,  my  holy  friend,  was  wandering  far, 
Preaching  where  green  Judea's  hillsides  are  ; 
Ay,  far  from  me  as  earth  is  from  a  star, 

And  I  no  longer  saw  his  smile  before  me. 

Sharp  throes  and  torrid  harbingers  of  fever 
Came  swift  upon  me,  and  I  felt  death  nigh, 
And  yet  no  tear  regretful  blurred  my  eye. 
Death  will  be  balked  ;  He  will  not  let  me  die, 

He,  the  all-healing  and  sublime  reliever. 

Thus  in  my  woe  I  raved,  in  anguish  sighing, 
Tortured  and  bent,  the  prey  to  growing  pain. 
My  sisters  sent  quick  messengers  in  vain, 
While  he,  who  cleansed  the  lepers  of  the  plain, 

Abandoned  me  disconsolate  and  dying  ! 

Ah  !  cruelly  he  delayed  and  let  me  languish 
In  those  disastrous  hours,  undone  and  numb, 
Deaf  to  my  cries  and  to  my  suffering  dumb  ; 
Yet,  had  he  chosen  in  majesty  to  come, 

I  never  would  have  known  my  present  anguish. 


136  LAZAKUS. 

Then  slowly  I  felt  all  sense  and  motion  leave  me  ; 
I  knew  no  more  of  earth,  for  I  had  died 
Among  the  loved  ones  sobbing  by  my  side, 
And,  when  a  day  in  pallor  I  did  abide, 

The  distant  vault  was  opened  to  receive  me. 


Three  days  I  lay  a  corpse  in  death's  foul  keeping, 
Wrapped  in  dull  cerements,  hidden  from  all  eyes, 
Mourned  by  fond  Mary,  being  then  the  prize 
Of  worms  sepulchral,  nevermore  to  rise, 

While  Mary  swooned  before  the  portal  weeping. 

And  Jesus,  who,  when  I  was  dead,  had  wandered, 
Serenely  preaching  through  Samaria's  bloom, 
Heedless  of  me  and  his  impendent  doom, 
At  last  with  weary  feet  approached  my  tomb, 

And,  seeing  it  closed,  wept  bitterly  and  pondered. 

Then  in  a  prayer  supreme  his  strength  assembling, 
Raising  unto  the  skies  his  holy  head, 
With  hesitations  all  divine,  he  said  : 
"  Come  forth,  oh  Lazarus  !"  and  from  the  dead 

1  rose,  forthcoming,  stupefied  and  trembling. 


LAZARUS.  137 

My  eyes  were  blinded  and  my  footsteps  blundered, 
As  he  came  toward  me  with  a  helping  palm  ; 
He  touched  me  lightly,  and  his  touch  was  balm, 
Giving  to  body  strength,  to  spirit  calm, 

While  the  awed  throng  around  him  prayed  and  wondered  ! 

When  words  were  mine,  I,  then,  the  Heaven-protected, 
Eagerly  bent  my  brows  and  whispered  low  : 
"Oh  peerless  friend  !     Oh  Christ  who  lov'st  me  so  ! 
Speak,  shall  I  ever  again  death's  odium  know. 

Now  that  by  thee  I  have  been  resurrected  ?" 

And  he,  as  if  his  miracle  repenting, 

Cast  down  vague  eyes  and  sadly  murmured  :  "Yes  !" 
Then  turned  away  his  face  in  deep  distress, 
While  I,  dumbfounded  and  all  wretchedness, 

Spake  no  word  more,  but  went  my  way  lamenting. 


Gone  was  the  dream  magnificent  I  cherished 
For  one  brief  span,  and  dulled  was  the  sublime 
And  senseless  thought  (perchance  akin  to  crime) 
That  by  his  will  I  could  exist  all  time, 

While  He  upon  the  cross  was  doomed  to  perish. 


138  LAZARUS. 

Ah  !  Death  in  fearless  ways  makes  no  selection, 
Alike  are  slain  the  reptile  and  the  bird  ; 
No  power  its  arm  has  haughtily  deferred, 
And  even  the  will  of  God  is  barely  heard 

By  Death,  the  iconoclast  of  resurrection. 


Now  I  pass  on  alone  in  grief  religious, 
Once  having  changed  the  universal  law, 
While  men  gaze  on  me  in  bewildered  awe, 
As  one  who  saw  that  which  none  other  saw, 

As  one  who  knows  God's  mysteries  prodigious. 


I  wander  desolate,  shunning  friendly  faces  ; 
I  fill  the  halls  at  night  with  hollow  cries  ; 
I  see  each  morn  the  mocking  red  sun  rise, 
That  warns  me  one  more  day  has  come  ;  mine  eyes 

Are  white  with  weeping  in  all  lonely  places. 


A  shadow  of  man,  inconsequent  and  aimless, 
I  keep  my  mighty  secret  unrevealed 
To  man,  but  I  have  told  it  to  the  field, 
The  trees,  the  stars,  the  stones,  which  will  not  yield 

Its  horror  up,  or  tell  its  essence  nameless. 


LAZARUS.  139 

Ah,  Christ !  if  thou  art  watching  o'er  me  haggard, 
Pity  and  spare  me  through  the  coming  years  ; 
Compassion  find  for  my  incessant  fears  ; 
Remember  thy  past  friendship  and  thy  tears ; 

Bid  Death  the  second  time  be  dull  and  laggard. 


Ah,  madman  that  I  am  !     Thou  canst  not  save  me  ! 
For  I  know  all,  Christ !     Thou  hast  not  the  power 
To  stay  the  simple  wilting  of  a  flower, 
Or  give  unto  the  utter  doomed  an  hour! 

Death,  death  alone  is  great,  and  he  can  brave  me  ! 


Ah  why,  my  Savior,  didst  thou  strangely  take  me 
From  dire  annihilation's  utter  rest, 
Urged  by  my  sister's  sorrowing  request  ? 
Why,  when  the  napkin  on  my  brow  was  pressed, 

Didst  thou  remove  it,  only  to  forsake  me  ? 

Ah  !  Death  is  sweeter  than  these  living  terrors, 
Haunted  by  hopelessness.     I  move  afraid  ! 
Why  for  such  torment  was  my  spirit  made  ? 
Why,  oh  Redeemer,  having  greatly  prayed, 

Didst  thou  commit  for  me  such  harrowing  errors  ? 


140  LAZARUS. 

I  love  life  now  !     I  loath  to  leave  the  splendor 
Of  birdful  groves  and  plains  beloved  of  flowers  ; 
I  venerate  the  olive  glades  and  bowers, 
And  the  fair  sight  of  ivy-girdled  towers 

Thrills  me  as  would  a  woman's  accents  tender. 


I  love  the  languors  of  the  land  Judean, 

I  love  the  sky  when  clouds  or  tempests  pass, 

I  love  the  tangled  emerald  of  its  grass, 

And  all  that  moves  or  breathes  therein.      Alas  ! 

I  now  must  die  again,  oh  Galilean  ! 

I  love  to  see  all  nature  warm  and  glorious 
Glow  in  the  fecund  pomp  of  autumn  sheaves, 
Fair  in  her  redolent  robes  of  rustling  leaves, 
Nature,  that  ever  blossoms  and  conceives, 

Life  over  death,  exultant  and  victorious. 

Ah  !  if  all  things  in  mystic  ways  could  borrow 
The  secret  I  have  sternly  kept,  the  trees 
Would  swoon  and  wither,  and  the  weary  breeze 
Would  die  despondent,  and  caressing  seas 

Would  lave  sad  shores  no  longer  in  their  sorrow. 


LAZARUS.  I4I 

Each  man  on  earth  would  shrink  in  consternation, 
Death  would  be  feared,  and  God  less  loved  than  now  ; 
No  head  would  in  Jehovan  temples  bow  ; 
Men  would  respect  no  faith,  no  creed,  no  vow, 

When  having  heard  my  mighty  revelation  ! 


For  I,  called  Lazarus,  the  Resurrected, 

Affirm  that  false  is  what  the  Prophet  saith  ; 
I,  who  have  seen  decay,  and  doom,  and  death, 
Loudly  attest,  until  my  dying  breath, 

That  we,  earth's  worms,  by  God  are  unprotected. 


Beyond  the  tomb's  most  explicable  portal, 

Shuddering,  I  tell  to  you  that  there  is  naught  / 
Unteach,  unteach,  all  that  ye  have  been  taught, 
Seek  not,  oh  world  !  what  ye  have  ever  sought ! 

There  is  no  Heaven  !     There  is  no  soul  immortal! 


Hearken  to  me,  oh  multitudes  ill-fated, 
Ye  who  through  life  so  penitently  plod, 
Bending  before  a  phantom  creed  and  rod, 
Know  there  is  no  hereafter  and  no  God, 

Know  that  your  every  hope  will  be  frustrated. 


142  LAZARUS. 

For  life  beyond  the  tomb  existed  never. 

Nothingness,  void  and  silence  come  to  all. 

Pray  not,  for  none  will  ever  hear  your  call ; 

Pray  not,  for  Death's  chill  answer  will  appall ; 
The  soul  dies  with  the  body  and  forever. 


There  is  no  fertile  Paradise  that  waits  us 
When  flesh  doth  rot,  and  what  we  call  a  soul 
Is  matter,  like  our  flesh,  and  hath  no  goal ; 
No  pitying  angels  with  our  pains  condole  ; 

There  is  no  hope  when  cruel  death  prostrates  us. 


I  have  been  dead  ;  the  sepulcher  did  take  me  ; 
Yet  I  knew  naught,  although  they  do  assert 
I  lay  for  days  in  dolorous  gloom  inert ; 
Yet  to  naught  palpable  can  I  revert, 

Till  the  calm  voice  of  Jesus  did  awake  me. 

No  dream,  no  vision  lulled  me  as  I  rested, 
No  sight  celestial  did  I  see,  no  sound 
Of  angel  songs  did  in  my  ears  resound  ; 
No  sense,  no  thought  came  to  me  prone  and  bound, 

Until  his  word  my  deathliness  molested. 


LAZARUS.  143 

Yet  for  three  days  I  lay  in  dismal  cerements, 
Three  days  and  nights,  while  no  thing  did  I  see  ; 
Oh  !  hesitant  friend,  why  didst  thou  come  to  me, 
Bid  Death  depart,  command  me  to  be  free, 

And  honor  me  there  with  thy  serene  endearments  ? 

For  nothing,  nothing  lasts  ;  the  world  is  dreaming 
Of  future  joys  that  earthly  bliss  transcend  ; 
When  dead,  I  say,  our  souls  with  nothing  blend. 
Death  is  the  sad,  inevitable  end, 

And  after,  there  is  hope  not,  nor  redeeming. 

And  that  is  why  I  love  in  vales  Judean 
To  wander,  drinking  life  at  every  pore, 
Praising  the  sea  and  worshiping  the  shore, 
For  I  shall  once  more  die  and  hear  no  more 

The  voice  of  spring-time  and  the  linnet's  paean. 

And  that  is  why  I  linger  in  the  gladness 

Of  town  and  village,  mountain-way  and  plain, 
Moved,  even  in  my  unutterable  pain, 
With  love  for  all  I  shall  not  see  again, 

Filled  with  perpetual  and  persistent  sadness. 

April  23,  1879. 


BABEL. 


BABEL. 

In  ways  unknown  to  mortals,  I  regret 

The  memory  of  that  grand  and  haughty  hour 
When  the  symmetric  splendor  of  my  tower 

Awed  the  pale  Heaven,  that  braves  my  anger  yet. 

No  stone  of  mine,  now  crumbling,  can  forget 

My  palm-clad  pomp  in  those  great  days  of  power, 
When  my  colossal  summit  made  stars  cower 

And  shrink  before  my  rising  silhouette. 

Oh  !  despicable,  puny  hordes  of  men  ! 

When  I  held  sky  and  space  within  my  reach, 
What  souls  had  ye  to  be  thus  overcome  ? 
Why  did  your  coward  hands  desert  me  when 

Jehovah  in  his  wrath  had  blent  all  speech  ? 
Could  ye  not  work,  oh  fools  /  though  ye  were  dumb  ? 


1878. 


CARTHAGE. 


(10) 


CARTHAGE,  147 


CARTHAGE. 

SONG   OF   NEGRO   SLAVES. 

We  were  trapped  in  far  oases, 

And  the  darkness  of  our  faces 
Proclaims  that  for  hard  slavery  and  trouble  we  were  born, 

To  live  here  as  thralls  and  wretches, 

With  the  beasts,  on  herbs  and  vetches, 
The  poor  toilers  of  the  city,  the  proud  Carthaginian's  scorn. 

In  our  land  of  moss  and  melons 

We  lived  not  as  hated  felons; 

We  were  princes  plumed  and  radiant  and  the  lords  of  many 
herds. 

And  we  loved  our  shining  beaches 

And  the  fertile  forest-reaches, 
Ay  !  we  loved  the  whir  of  arrows  and  the  melodies  of  birds. 

We  had  many  a  dusky  maiden, 
With  white  shells  and  coral  laden, 
To  admire  our  agile  dances  and  to  give  us  kisses  sweet  ; 


148  CARTHAGE. 

We  had  countless  flocks  and  shepherds, 
And  the  glossy  skins  of  leopards 
Made  us  mantles  for  our  bodies  and  soft  covers  for  our  feet. 

We  had  captured  skulls,  as  rightful, 

In  our  tented  towns  delightful, 
Ay  !  the  skulls  of  those  we  hated  and  in  loyal  combat  killed  ; 

For  our  race  was  ever  glorious 

And  eternally  victorious, 
While  the  rustle  of  our  lances  every  soul  with  terror  filled. 

But  there  came  a  time  of  terror, 

A  sad  day  of  wrong  and  error, 
When  the  cavalry  of  Carthage,  we  had  never  met  before, 

By  new  modes  and  ways  of  battle 

Mowed  us  down  like  helpless  cattle, 
And  our  king  was  left  beheaded  while  the  jackals  drank  his  gore. 

So,  bereft  of  love,  we  languish 

In  our  misery  and  anguish, 
By  our  mighty  gods  forsaken  while  our  brothers  mourn  our  loss  ; 

And  we  wait,  bowed  down  in  sorrow, 

For  the  dire  and  dreaded  morrow, 

When  to  please  the  conquering  rabble  we  shall  writhe  upon 
the  cross ! 


CARTHAGE. 


149 


SONG   OF   CARTHAGINIAN   SAILORS. 

We  are  monarchs  of  the  sea, 
And  before  us  ever  flee 

The  great  vessels  of  the  Romans,  ay,  like  doves  before  the 
thunder ! 

We  can  terrify  all  Rome, 
When  we  speed  through  blood  and  foam 

To  their  harbors  and  their  vineyards,  there  to  revel  and  to 
plunder  ! 

We  can  count  ten  thousand  oars 

Upon  our  and  distant  shores, 

On  our  haughty  prows  e'er  glitter  the  fierce  eyes  of  sculptured 
horses  ; 

We  are  dreaded  as  a  pest 

By  our  enemies  oppressed, 
And  the  beaches  of  their  inlets  are  all  crimson  with  their  corses. 

Oh  !  we  long  to  sail  again 
To  the  fair  Sicilian  main, 
For  great  Melcarth  is  propitious,  and  the  skies  are  full  of  omens. 


ISO  CARTHAGE. 

And  with  fury  we  will  fall 
On  the  coasts  and  slaughter  all 
The  effeminate  and  craven  haughty  rabble  of  the  Romans  ! 


Yea  !  we  clamor  for  the  fray  ; 

We  have  spent  our  spoil  and  pay, 
And  we  need  the  touch  of  money  and  the  clinking  of  rare  prizes, 

While  a  hatred  of  the  foe 

Makes  our  martial  bosoms  glow, 
And  our  cry  for  blood  and  battle  in  magnificence  arises  ! 

In  mean  leather  coin  they  pay 
Our  great  services  to-day, 

For   the   Senate   dreams   or   revels    and  forgets  its    staunch 
defender  ! 

We  need  purple  gold  and  bright, 
And  more  women  for  the  night, 

Ay  !  more  women,  white  and  wanton,  women  oiled,  and  sweet, 
and  tender. 

Where  is  Hanno  with  his  sword? 
Our  great  admiral  and  lord 
Must  be  hot  with  wine  and  spices  in  the  chambers  of  a  harlot, 


CARTHAGE.  151 

For  he  hath  deserted  now 
His  victorious  vessel's  prow, 

And  doth  chant  the  praise  of  Tanit  in  his  rustling  robes  of 
scarlet. 


Are  we  doomed  no  more  to  fight 

And  to  burn  great  towns  at  night  ? 
Must  we  linger  here  like  fish-men,  gazing  calmly  at  the  water  ? 

Oh,  great  Hanno  !  rise  !  appear  ! 

Beckon  Romeward  with  thy  spear, 

For  we  yearn  to  hear  the  trumpets  drown  the  shrieking  and  the 
slaughter. 


CARTHAGE. 


CRUCIFIXION  OF  A  CARTHAGINIAN   GENERAL. 

And  lo  !  Adherbal,  General-in-Chief, 
The  leader  of  the  Slingers  of  the  Isles, 
Captain  of  Cohorts  and  Iberian  slaves, 
Captain  of  Libyan  and  Phoenician  spears, 
Captain  of  Greeks,  Campanians  and  Gauls, 
And  many  Volscians,  famed  for  battle-cries, 
Had  lost  a  contest  on  Sicilian  plains, 
Leaving  a  thousand  warriors  dead  or  maimed, 
And  twenty  elephants,  the  dread  of  Rome. 
Yea,  and  his  foolish  plans  had  cost  the  State 
A  hundred  tents  of  silk  and  many  spears, 
And  bales  of  food  and  money  for  the  troops 
In  two  besieged  towns,  and  camels,  too, 
While  all  the  jeweled  women  of  the  camp, 
Marching  to  render  pleasure  to  the  men, 
Had  fallen  captives  to  the  power  of  Rome, 
To  be  the  playthings  of  centurions. 

And  Carthage  shook  with  anger,  and  the  gods 
Howled  from  their  altars  in  terrific  wrath, 


CARTHAGE.  153 

Claiming  the  sacrifice  of  Adherbal, 

Whom  they  forsook  as  ravens  shun  dry  bones. 

And  all  the  people  clamored  to  the  gods. 

And  lo  !  the  sapient  council  filled  the  streets 

And  halls  judicial  near  the  shrine  of  Bel, 

There  with  unhallowed  speed  to  judge  the  cause, 

Dooming  the  vanquished  general  to  the  cross. 

And  he,  Adherbal,  paled  before  the  speech, 
But  murmured  not,  because  his  soul  was  brave. 
And  as  he  sinned  by  sleeping  with  his  slaves, 
White  Gallic  women  captured  on  the  hills, 
When  over  plans  he  should  have  worn  his  eyes, 
He  merited  the  doom,  and  courted  it. 
While  people  praised  his  valor  near  to  death, 
And  crowded  near  to  hear  his  dying  wish, 
Which  would  be  granted  him  by  antique  law, 
If  that  he  begged  not  life  ;  and  Adherbal 
Arose,  with  sensuous  smiles  upon  his  lips 
And  passionate  gleams  of  fire  within  his  eyes, 
And  cried  aloud  :  "  Honored  and  holy  law  ! 
I  will  abide  by  thee  and  have  no  fear. 
The  boon  thou  grantest,  ere  my  days  are  snapped 
Asunder  like  a  rotten  reed,  is  this  : 
Grant  me  the  secrecy  of  purple  tents, 


154  CARTHAGE. 

Bring  me  Campanian  wine  with  meat  and  figs, 
And  until  dawn  leave  me  in  guarded  peace 
With  yonder  lustrous  maiden  of  the  Gauls, 

Whom  I  with  mine  own  hand  in  battle  seized 
t 

When  she  had  pierced  my  leathers  with  a  dart 
And  conquered  me.     I  there,  her  conqueror, 
Let  me  but  hide  the  bristles  of  my  beard 
Upon  the  rounded  whiteness  of  her  breasts, 
And  at  the  hour  appointed  I  will  die, 
Loving  the  law  and  faithful  to  the  land  !  " 
And  all  the  people  shouted  :    "  Grant  the  wish  !  " 
And  it  was  granted. 

Through  the  balmy  night 
The  fallen  chief  made  revel  with  the  maid, 
And  bade  her  note  his  valor  on  the  cross. 
And  when  the  dawn,  with  its  sweet  pulse  of  light, 
Had  throbbed  through  darkness  to  a  perfect  day, 
He  was  led  forth  and  nailed  unto  a  cross. 
Now,  in  the  horde  that  compassed  him  about, 
Was  an  old  warrior,  who  had  warred  in  Spain 
When  young  Adherbal  first  sniffed  blood  on  fields, 
And  in  the  panic  of  a  battle's  heart 
He,  crushed  and  trampled  on  by  yelling  hosts, 
Lay  stricken  down  and  was  about  to  die, 


CARTHAGE,  155 

When  lo  !  Adherbal,  witnessing  his  plight, 

Charged  on  the  assailers,  and  with  mighty  blows 

Saved  the  poor  man  and  vanquished  on  that  day. 

And  the  old  soldier's  mind  was  full  of  this. 

He  saw  again  the  swift,  tumultuous  scene 

Pass  in  his  eyes,  and  there  his  savior  hung, 

Nailed  to  a  cross  to  linger  in  the  sun, 

The  prey  of  birds,  and  all  his  soul  rebelled. 

And  when  the  throngs  were  busy  at  the  sight, 

He  crouched  and  poised  a  javelin  in  his  hand, 

And  with  unerring  speed  above  the  heads 

Of  all  the  multitude  it  shrilly  whirred 

Deep  to  the  tortued  bosom  of  the  chief, 

Who  cried  aloud  :    "  Bel  bless  thee,  friend  !  "  and  died, 

While  all  the  cheated  people  turned  in  wrath 

And  tore  the  soldier's  body  into  shreds. 


156  CARTHAGE. 


CARTHAGINIAN    MARKET   SONG. 

Oh  sweet  passer,  pause,  be  wise  ! 

We  have  flowers  to  charm  thine  eyes. 
Enter,  passer,  stop,  sweet  stranger,  enter  in  and  taste 
our  wares  ! 

We  have  rosy  auroch-flesh 

From  the  green  oases  fresh, 
We  have  melons  from  Egesta  and  the  juicy  Sulci  pears. 

In  our  baskets  thou  wilt  find 
Hottest  spice  of  every  kind, 
With  rich  paste  to  rub  the  body  when  the  sun  is  fierce 

by  day. 

They  are  delicate  and  sweet, 
Made  of  myrrh,  and  wine,  and  wheat, 
Ay  !    with  sulphur,  and  pure  galbanum,  and  the  milk  of 
bitches  gray. 

We  have  fat  and  sweetened  moles, 
And  rich  safran  in  clay  bowls  ; 

We  have  locusts  fried  and  crackling  with  a  savor  of  the 
palms  ; 


CARTHAGE.  157 

We  have  lobsters  and  small  fish 
To  prepare  a  dainty  dish, 

And  young  dogs,  made  sleek  with  olives,  stuffed  with 
annis-bread  and  balms. 

Taste  our  cool  Campanian  wine, 
Fit  for  any  god  divine  ! 
Taste  our  figs  from  Agrigentum  and  our  shell-fish  from 

Hagour. 

From  Selimis  we  have  snails 
Breathing  still  among  the  pails, 

And  we  catch  the  thorny  porcupine  in  ravine  and  on 
moor. 

We  have  garum,  and  at  noon 
We  have  cakes  shaped  like  the  moon, 
With  young  camel's  flesh  in  plenty  and  the  luscious 

hearts  of  deer  ; 

We  sell  plates  of  peacock's  brains, 
And  the  mighty  narwhale  canes, 

Yea,  and  perfumed  bags  to  shelter  soldiers'  beards  when 
rains  appear. 

Oh  sweet  passer,  pause  and  choose  ! 
We  have  ornamented  shoes 


158  CARTHAGE. 

Made  from  skins    of  striped  hyenas  caught  by  hunters 

in  their  home. 
And  our  prices,  passer  fair, 
Ay,  our  prices,  passer  rare, 

Are  far  cheaper,  yea,  far  cheaper  than  the  prices  of  foul 
Rome  ! 


CARTHAGE.  159 


SONG   OF   ROMAN    PRISONERS. 

In  the  scorching  sun  amid  the  bricks  we  languish, 
And  no  golden  ransom  cometh  o'er  the  foam  ; 

We  are  slaves  in  utter  misery  and  anguish, 
Left  unshielded  by  the  generals  of  Rome. 

We  are  doomed  by  mighty  beasts  to  be  down-trampled, 
Or  upon  a  hideous  cross  to  shriek  and  rot, 

If  to  save  us  for  our  valor  unexampled 

Our  companions  from  the  Forum  hurry  not. 

We  were  captured  in  the  fierce  heart  of  the  battle, 
But  no  warrior  brought  a  pallor  to  our  cheeks  ; 

We  withstood  the  many  darts  that  smite  and  rattle, 
We  were  terrorized  by  no  Numidian  shrieks. 

But  our  blood  forsook  us  when  those  beasts  Titanic, 
Those  ponderous  monsters,  trod  our  legions  down, 

And  our  gods  deserted  us  in  hideous  panic, 
While  we  battled  for  our  citadel's  renown  ! 


160  CARTHAGE. 

When  the  sacred  band  of  M6gara  assaulted 
Our  unbroken  lines  with  many  a  savage  cry, 

We  defied  their  power  and  all  their  gods  exalted, 
And  like  heroes  we  were  jubilant  to  die  ! 

But  we  war  not  with  strange  monsters  and  with  devils, 
To  the  gleam  of  tusks  we  dare  not  trust  our  eyes, 

When  a  fierce  and  snorting  brute  in  armor  levels 
Half  a  legion  to  the  dust  before  it  dies  ! 

Man  to  man  in  equal  battle  we  fight  gravely  ; 

Lance  to  lance,  and  sword  to  sword,  we  know  no  fears  ; 
We  repel  attack  and  urge  our  chargers  bravely 

Through  a  maze  of  shields  and  labyrinths  of  spears ! 

Oh  great  Rome  !     Oh  mother-city  !   strike,  and  spare  us 
From  ignoble  death  upon  these  arid  sands  ! 

To  thy  walls  impregnable  in  triumph  bear  us, 

Place  our  captured  glaives  once  more  within  our  hands  ! 


CARTHAGE.  161 


CHORUS  OF  PRIESTS. 

Oh  mighty  Moloch  !     Hail,  terrific  god,  bull-headed  ! 
And  hail  to  thee,  Rahab,  omnipotent  and  dreaded  ! 
Baal-Samin,  unto  thee,  God  of  Celestial  Spaces, 
We  come  with  precious  gifts  and  pallor  on  our  faces  ! 
And,  at  thy  shrine,  Zeboub,  great  God  of  Rot  and  Carrion, 
We  offer  piles  of  human  flesh  and  praise  thee  with  the  clarion  ' 
God  of  the  Holy  Hills,  strong  Peor,  we  adore  thee, 
And  in  our  pointed  caps  we  humbly  bow  before  thee  ! 
Derceto,  unto  thee,  sweet  goddess  finned  and  beauteous, 
We  come  with  gems  and  gifts,  thy  people  grave  and  duteous ! 
And  to  thy  sacred  shrine,  oh  Nebo  !  black  and  awful, 
We  drag  the  shrieking  slaves  for  sacrifices  lawful ; 
We  smear  thy  statue's  brass  with  rarest  spice  and  butter, 
While  at  its  polished  base  thy  gory  victims  mutter ! 
We  hail  thee,  Mastiman,  God  of  the  Dead  and  Dying  ! 
Before  thy  shrine  of  gold  still  kneel  the  doomed  ones  sighing',! 
And  unto  thee,  Gurzil,  we  bring  fat,  dreamy  cattle, 
And  redden  with  their  veins  thy  grees,  oh  God  of  Battle  ! 
(11) 


162  CARTHAGE. 

In  fires  of  Sandardc  we  burn  black  cocks  and  chickens, 
While  in   the  pots  the  seething  spice  in  clouds  of  fragrance 

thickens. 

Protect  your  slaves,  oh  mighty  God  !  and  let  us  languish  never, 
So  that  we  may  in  swoons  of  joy  bow  down  to  thee  forever ! 


CARTHAGE.  163 


CHORUS   OF   CARTHAGINIAN   SOLDIERS. 

Every  foe  before  us  flies 

With  a  terror  in  his  eyes  ! 
We  are  Hannibal's  fierce  warriors  for  all  battle-carnage  frantic, 

And  amid  our  brazen  shields, 

In  the  blood  of  many  fields, 

He,  our  leader,  our  great  Captain,  deigns  to  praise  our  deeds 
gigantic  ! 

On  the  slopes  of  Eryx  far 
We  did  mutilate  and  mar 

The   mailed    enemies  who   scorned   us   with   mad    folly  and 
derision  ! 

How  Zeboub,  the  God  of  Rot, 
Who  his  chosen  ne'er  forgot, 

Hurled  his  lightning  on  their  bodies  as  they  vanished  like  a 
vision  ! 

Yea  !  Zeboub  doth  love  us  well ! 
In  his  name  we  smite  and  fell 

Without  grace  and  without  mercy  all  the  vanquished  of  each 
city  ! 


1 64  CARTHAGE. 

We  are  deaf  to  captive's  cries, 
We  are  stone  to  woman's  sighs, 

For  great  Melcarth  guides  us  onward  and  hath  never  taught 
us  pity ! 

With  the  fat  a  foe-corpse  yields 

We  illuminate  our  shields, 

Made  of  brass  and  hides  of  elephants,  whose  strength  defies 
all  arrows  ; 

And  we  feast  with  joys  immense 

In  our  white  and  purple  tents, 
In  the  glory  of  our  manhood,  in  the  splendor  of  our  marrows  ! 

When  we  valorously  march 
Over  plain  and  under  arch, 

We  have  with  us  dogs  and  leopards,  and  lithe  lynxes,  pets 
ferocious, 

And  when  blood  is  thick  and  red, 
To  the  carrion  they  are  led, 

And     the    wounded    foeman    shiver    in    their    massive  jaws 
atrocious  ! 

We  have  taken  scores  of  towns, 
On  the  hills  and  on  the  downs, 

Ay  !    Entella,  Cirta,  Tingis,   and  walled  Henna  towered  and 
flowerful  ! 


CARTHAGE.  165 

We  have  made  a  dreaded  camp 
Under  Cyrnos  bleak  and  damp, 

And   have  crushed  the   Roman   legions  under  chariots   swift 
and  powerful  ! 

Great  Xantippus,  once  our  Chief, 

Who  in  battle  knew  no  grief, 
Led  us  forward  when  at  Adis  all  our  enemies  assembled  ; 

Ask  the  devasting  crows, 

That  devoured  the  fallen  rows, 

How    they    found    annihilation    while    their    coward    Senate 
trembled  ! 

We  parade  in  brazen  bands, 

We  have  jewels  on  our  hands, 
Our  campaigns  are  ever  counted  by  the  rings  upon  our  fingers  ; 

And  whenever  we  appear, 

The  stupendous  God  of  Fear 
On  the  forehead  of  the  Romans  in  a  mist  of  scarlet  lingers  ! 

We  have  bridles  of  bent  reeds 
To  direct  our  bounding  steeds  ; 

They  are  burdened  by  the   bodies  of   the  Roman  girls  we 
capture, 


1 66  CARTHAGE. 

Ay  !  the  blushing  Roman  girls, 
With  a  fragrance  in  their  curls, 

Whom  we  kiss  and  fondle  nightly,  warm  with  rosy  wine  and 
rapture  ! 

We  perpetually  burn 

For  a  kiss's  soft  return, 
And  when  noble  War  has  ended  to  the  Satheb  we  can  wander, 

Where  the  city  harlots  stride 

In  their  jewels  and  their  pride, 

Where  we  bend  upon  their  bosoms    and   the   Roman  silver 
squander  ! 

Oh  great  Gurzil,  God  of  War, 

Mighty  God  without  a  scar  ! 

Drive  the  enemies  of  Carthage  now  before  thee  like  dumb 
cattle, 

And  with  fury  in  thine  eyes, 

Deign  impeccable  to  rise, 
And  protect  our  valiant  foreheads  in  the  hot  hells  of  the  battle  ! 


CARTHAGE.  167 


WAR   SONG   OF   NUMIDIAN  ,'HORSEMEN. 

We  are  the  terror  of  the  state, 

And  yet  its  joy  ; 
Our  blows  are  pitiless  as  fate 

When  we  destroy. 

We  are  the  mighty  army's  heart  ; 

Our  glittering  shields, 
When  seen,  make  haughty  Romans  start 

On  battle-fields. 

Unhampered  course  our  valiant  steeds 

On  plain  and  shore, 
Held  by  a  wreath  of  twisted  reeds 

And  nothing  more. 

Our  ears  are  gemmed  with  ocean  pearls  ; 

We  are  revered, 
And  we  have  perfume  in  our  curls 

And  on  our  beard. 


168  CARTHAGE. 

Agile  and  fearless  everywhere, 

The  foe  we  meet, 
Dealing  forth  danger  and  despair, 

Death  and  defeat. 

A  thousand  Romans  by  our  spears 
Have  lost  their  lives, 

And  in  our  camp,  with  wine  that  cheers, 
We  hold  their  wives. 

The  vestals  and  the  maids  of  Rome 

Our  couch  adorn  ; 
Our  gaudy  tents  become  their  home 

From  dusk  to  morn. 

The  courtesans  of  Malqua  come 

To  sell  delight  ; 
With  spicy  food  and  birds  that  hum 

We  pass  the  night. 

Without  us,  Carthage  in  despair 

Would  surely  fall ; 
The  banners  of  the  state  we  bear 

High  over  all. 


CARTHAGE.  169 

The  strength  of  great  Melcarth  is  ours, 

Stronger  than  brass  ! 
Bow  to  the  dust,  and  strew  with  flowers 

The  path  we  pass  ! 


170  CARTHAGE. 


SONG    OF    NECROMANCERS. 


The  secrets  we  divine 
Of  stars  that  o'er  us  shine, 
And  Tanit,  bathed  in  splendors, 
Her  mystery  surrenders 
At  our  sign. 


Each  living  thing  on  earth 
Proclaims  our  holy  worth  ; 
We  know  all  wonders  mystic, 
All  symbols  cabalistic, 
From  our  birth. 


We  know  the  balm  for  stings, 
We  read  the  eyes  of  kings  ; 
We  live  in  contemplation, 
And  in  deep  meditation 
Learn  all  things. 


CARTHAGE. 

We  warn  when  gentle  rain 
Will  ripple  on  the  plain. 
Near  Nebo's  lofty  altars 
Our  worship  never  falters, 
Nor  is  vain. 


We  read  the  azure  skies, 
All  naked  to  our  eyes  ! 
And  nothing  over  or  under 
Can  cause  our  spirit  wonder 
Or  surprise  ! 


We  know  the  mystic  powers 
Of  birds,  and  beasts,  and  flowers  ; 
And  happy  life  eternal, 
Forever  sweet  and  vernal, 
Will  be  ours  ! 


172  CARTHAGE. 


CRUCIFIXION   OF    LIONS. 

And  lo  !  the  pale  announcer  of  new  moons, 
High  on  the  flowerful  Temple  of  Eschm6n, 
Cried  to  the  winds  and  smote  his  palsied  cheek, 
For  he  was  feverish  by  the  midnight  air 
Of  many  decades,  and  his  blood  was  thin 
Attending  to  the  motions  of  the  orb 
That  turned  his  eyes  to  whiteness,  but  he  knew 
That,  when  fell  blindness  shrouded  them  at  last, 
He  would  be  sacred  held,  and  he  was  glad 
Within  his  bosom,  for  the  moon's  thin  slaves, 
When  ravaged  by  the  splendor  of  her  rays, 
Were  holy  ever  after,  and  could  dwell 
In  M£gara,  the  suburb  of  the  town, 
Under  green  palms  and  fountains,  with  the  birds, 
There  to  praise  Melcarth  in  the  glorious  sun, 
And  feast  on  fat,  and  know  the  taste  of  quails, 
Or  drain  Campanian  amphoras  at  night. 
Therefore,  Maharbal  on  the  temple's  crown 
Signaled  a  wondrous  darkness  on  the  moon, 
That  presaged  death  to  animals  that  night, 


CARTHAGE.  173 

And  on  his  silver  trumpet  he  announced 
The  serious  changes  in  the  heavens  afar. 

His  words,  caught  up  by  sentries  at  the  gates, 
Were  hurried  to  a  myriad  of  ears, 
And  Schahabarim,  the  anointed  priest, 
Paused  in  the  act  of  sacrifice,  and  bade 
A  thousand  slaves  to  hasten  to  the  pits, 
And  shackle  thirty  lions  with  strong  gyves. 

And  this  was  done  amid  a  storm  of  roars 
And  death  to  many  by  colossal  fangs  ; 
For  twenty  men  sufficed  to  bind  a  beast  ; 
Yea,  twenty  only  !     When  the  beast  was  bound, 
Two,  sometimes  three,  of  the  lithe  negro  slaves 
Lived  to  narrate  the  combat  to  the  town  ! 
And  as  the  sacred  number,  thirty,  stood, 
Full  half  a  thousand  human  lives  were  lost. 
But  loss  of  life  it  was  not,  they  being  slaves 
Unworthy  to  drag  offal  to  old  bears. 
Then  all  the  people  shouted  at  the  groans 
Of  bleeding  wretches,  and  the  living  slaves, 
Tottering  from  effort  and  terrific  wounds, 
With  strips  of  skin  still  dangling  on  their  loins, 
With  opened  shoulders  bitten  to  the  bone, 


174  CARTHAGE. 

Led  forth  the  monsters  to  the  neighboring  grove, 
Where  Tanit  shone  in  miracles  of  light. 

Here  were  a  hundred  crosses  black  with  blood 
Of  man  and  beast,  the  victims  of  the  month. 
Some  were  alive  and  howled  aloud  for  death, 
And  some  were  dead,  and  others  had  no  eyes, 
But  breathed  amid  the  rustling  wings  of  birds, 
Half  frenzied  by  the  approach  of  golden  light, 
Loath  to  abandon  many  a  half-picked  bone, 
Glossy  through  clots  of  blood  below  the  moon. 
And  many  crosses  held  no  putrid  weight, 
But  skeletons  of  prisoners  of  war 
Who  paid  no  ransom,  and  these  bones  were  torn 
Free  from  the  rusty  nails  and  hurled  away, 
To  give  a  place  for  all  the  lions  there. 
Ay,  with  such  savage  force,  such  eager  haste, 
That  many  a  rotting  palm  or  foot  remained 
And  stunk  upon  the  cross,  the  body  gone  ! 

Then  the  high  priests  of  Moloch  oiled  and  robed, 
With  ringed  finger  and  large  ebon  lyres, 
Advanced  and  stood  before  the  crosses  grim, 
Singing  their  holy  souls  forth  to  the  moon. 


CARTHAGE. 

Then  with  a  rush,  a  tumult  and  great  cries, 
The  thousand  slaves  fell  on  the  shackled  beasts 
And  nailed  their  writhing  limbs  upon  the  cross, 
Biting  their  brows  and  tearing  out  their  manes, 
While  angry  teeth  snapped  loudly  in  their  arms, 
And  yells  excruciating  moved  the  gods. 
For  many  hours  in  bloody  sweat  and  fear 
They  fought  the  monsters  maddened  by  the  light, 
And  when  the  last  was  firm  upon  the  cross, 
Slaves  there  were  few  to  taunt  the  vanquished  foe. 
The  lions  roared  in  agony  of  pain, 
And  clamoring  echoed  to  the  halls  of  Bel, 
Filling  the  hearts  of  worshipers  with  bliss, 
And  as  they  roared,  the  people,  red  with  joy, 
Seized  the  bright  flaring  torches  all  about 
To  singe  their  open  jaws,  their  shattered  limbs, 
And  hail  their  gods  and  thank  them  for  the  sport. 
But,  as  they  trifled  in  this  way,  the  hours 
Passed  slowly  on,  and  from  the  temple's  heights, 
A  chant  proclaimed  the  pleasure  of  the  gods, 
And  that  white  Tanit's  heart  was  satisfied. 
Therefore,  the  people  hurried  to  the  town 
And  left  the  groaning  lions  to  the  moon. 


176  CARTHAGE. 


SONG   TO   TANIT. 

CARTHAGINIAN    SONG    TO    THE    MOON. 

Oh  luminous  Tanit  !   unto  us  thou  sendest 

The  wandering  winds,  the  dews  and  many  rains, 

And  by  thy  wondrous  rise  and  fall  thou  lendest 
New  mysteries  to  our  green,  abundant  plains. 

The  eyes  of  cats  grow  narrow  by  thy  changes, 
The  spots  of  panthers  by  thy  rays  expand, 

And  fearless  beasts  within  the  mountain  ranges 
Grow  terrible  or  weak  at  thy  command. 

The  shells  that  dot  the  tawny  beach  thou  fillest, 
Thou  makest  pearls,  pale  jewels  of  the  sea, 

And  with  great  awe  our  listening  ears  thou  thrillest 
By  all  the  grace  that  emanates  from  thee. 

The  corpses  of  our  foes  thou  putrefiest, 

Thou  callest  phantoms  and  destructive  dreams  ; 

Thou  art  our  blessed  Tanit,  purest,  highest ! 
We  worship  in  bewilderment  thy  beams  ! 


CARTHAGE.  177 

Oh,  thou  art  white,  and  luminous,  and  splendent ! 

Thou  art  serene,  immaculate,  complete, 
Pacing  the  skies  with  all  thy  stars  attendant, 

And  Carthage  like  a  jewel  at  thy  feet ! 

Thine  eyes  devour  our  temples  and  our  altars, 
Thy  sheen  doth  even  sicken  the  sacred  apes  ; 

Their  bestial  courage  in  thy  presence  falters, 
Their  sense  is  terrorized  by  heavenly  shapes. 

Oh  Tanit !   whitest  moon,  forever  holy  ! 

Watch  us  and  guard  us  from  thy  distant  throne  ! 
Thee  will  we  venerate  and  worship  solely, 

Thou  of  all  goddesses  art  pure  alone ! 


(12) 


178  CARTHAGE. 


SONG   OF   HANNIBAL'S   WARRIORS. 

Hail,  Hannibal !  to  thee 
Belong  the  land  and  sea  ! 
Before  thee  foemen  flee 

Like  frightened  horses  ! 
The  legions  of  the  State 
Thy  valor  consecrate, 
And  ever  victorious  great 

Crown  all  our  forces  ! 


Thou  art  above  all  law, 
Supreme  and  without  flaw  ; 
We  follow  thee  with  awe 

And  passive  wonder  ! 
We  reverence  thy  choice, 
And  in  thy  deeds  rejoice  ; 
The  war-cry  of  thy  voice 

Is  like  a  thunder  ! 


CARTHAGE.  179 

Oh  Hannibal !    we  crave 
From  thee  a  soldier's  grave, 
When  with  a  dripping  glaive 

We  strike  the  foemen  ; 
And  if  we  have  to  die, 
Let  our  last  battle-cry 
Ascend  to  Bel  on  high 

O'er  corses  Roman  ! 


The  maidens  of  the  foe 

Are  soft  and  warm,  we  know  ; 

We  love  the  ruby  glow 

Of  their  sweet  blushes. 
Oh  Victor  !   lead  to  Rome 
Thy  legions  through  the  foam, 
And  give  to  us  a  home 

Near  Roman  rushes  ! 


We  long  to  smite  and  burn, 
And  childish  pity  spurn  ; 
For  blaring  camps  we  yearn, 
And  deadly  battle  ! 


i8o  CARTHAGE. 


We  long  to  make  more  slaves, 
And  dig  great  Roman  graves, 
Or  hurl  them  to  the  waves 
Like  sickened  cattle  ! 


Oh  Hannibal  !    arise 

With  vengeance  in  thine  eyes  ! 

Answer  our  battle-cries, 

So  that  thy  glory, 
Thy  glory  great  and  vast, 
When  we  from  earth  have  passed, 
May  for  all  ages  last 

In  song  and  story  ! 


CARTHAGE.  181 


SONG  OF  THE  WAY-WALKER. 

Oh,  listen,  passer  dear  ! 

Behold  me,  I  am  here, 

Deftly  oiled,  and   lithe   and  supple,   with  red  roses   on    my 
breast. 

Bid  me  to  thee  by  a  sign  ; 

Give  me  gold  and  I  am  thine, 
For  I  long  by  valiant  warriors  to  be  petted  and  caressed  ! 

I  have  amulets  and  rings, 

And  a  host  of  peerless  things 

In  my  perfumed  house  in  Malqua  ;  come,  sweet  passer,  to  my 
home  ! 

There  are  lilies  in  my  hair, 

And  my  bosom,  round  and  bare, 
Is  far  whiter  than  pale  Tanit  beaming  softly  on  the  foam. 

I  have  spices  and  rich  paint, 
And  my  limbs  are  without  taint  ; 
I  will  sing  for  thee  and  play  thee  merry  tunes  on  tambourines. 


i82  CARTHAGE. 

I  will  dance  to  lend  new  fire 
To  the  pangs  of  thy  desire, 

And  will  fill  thy  soul  with  cloyment  'mid  the  garlands  of  my 
screens. 

Lo  !  behold  me  in  my  pride  ! 

For  my  rosy  cheeks  are  dyed, 
And  my  feet  are  cased  in  sandals  all  besprent  by  sparkling  stones, 

And  within  my  pleasant  house 

For  a  night  thou  canst  carouse, 
Softly  pleasured  by  the  music  of  the  flutes  of  asses'  bones. 

I  have  soothing  paste  and  wine 

From  the  scented  lotus-vine, 
I  have  marble  baths  and  unguents  to  refresh  the  wearied  frame  ; 

For  the  ravishments  that  swarm 

In  my  body  white  and  warm 
Are  as  sweet  as  waving  frondage  and  as  subtle  as  a  flame. 

I  can  resurrect  thy  fire 

By  the  thrumming  of  my  lyre  ; 

In  my  nudity  delicious  I  will  make  thy  spirit  sigh, 
For  all  doleful  sorrow  slips 
From  the  fragrance  of  my  lips, 

And  all  pains  and  sad  vexations  on  my  perfumed  body  die. 


BEL-SHAR-UZZUR 

(BELSHAZZAR.) 

A   DRAMATIC   POEM. 


BEL-SHAR-UZZUR.  185 


BEL-SHAR-UZZUR. 

The  lady  of  kingdoms. 

— Jeremiah,  ji;  41. 

The  praise  of  the  whole  earth. 

— Isaiah,  4.7;  5. 

Is  not  this  great  Babylon,  that  I  have  built  for  the  house  of  the  king- 
dom  by  the  might  of  my  power,  and  for  the  honor  of  my  majesty  ? 

— Daniel,  4:  30. 

Belshazzar  the  king  made  a  great  feast  to  a  thousand  of  his  lords,  and 
drank  wine  before  the  thousand. 

— Daniel,  5:  i. 

They  drank  wine  and  praised  the  gods  of  gold  and  of  silver,  of  brass,  of 
iron,  of  wood,  and  of  stone. 

—Daniel,  j:  4. 

A  mighty  nation,  an  ancient  nation. 

— Jeremiah,  j:  fj. 

And  he  called  the  Chaldeans  and  said,  whosoever  shall  read  the  writing 
and  show  me  the  interpretation  thereof  shall  be  clothed  with  scarlet,  and 
have  a  chain  of  gold  about  his  neck,  and  shall  be  the  third  ruler  of  the 
kingdom. 

I  will  punish  Bel  in  Babylon,  and  I  will  bring  out  of  his  mouth  that 
which  he  hath  swallowed  up,  and  the  nations  shall  not  flow  together  any 
more  unto  him  ;  yea,  the  walls  of  Babylon  shall  fall. 

And  Babylon,  the  glory  of  kingdoms,  the  beauty  of  the  Chaldees' 
excellency,  shall  be  as  when  God  overthrew  Sodom  and  Gomorrah. 

— Isaiah,  ij:  xg. 


186  BEL-SHAR-UZZUR. 

It  shall  never  be  inhabited,  neither  shall  it  be  dwelt  in  from  generation  to 
generation,  neither  shall  the  Arabian  pitch  tent  there,  neither  shall  the 
shepherds  make  their  fold  there. 

But  wild  beasts  of  the  desert  shall  be  there,  and  their  houses  shall  be  full 
of  doleful  creatures,  and  owls  shall  dwell  there,  and  satyrs  shall  dance  there. 

And  the  wild  beasts  of  the  islands  shall  cry  in  their  desolate  houses,  and 
dragons  in  their  pleasant  palaces  ;  and  her  time  is  near  to  come,  and  her 

days  shall  not  be  prolonged. 

— Isaiah,  13:  JQ. 

Sit  thou  silent  and  get  thee  into  darkness,  O  daughter  of  the  Chaldeans, 
for  thou  shalt  no  more  be  called  the  lady  of  the  kingdoms. 

— Isaiah,  47: 5. 

Bel  boweth  down,  Nebo  stoopeth. 

— Isaiah,  46:  i. 

Babylon  hath  been  a  golden  cup  in  the  Lord's  hand,  that  made  all  the 
earth  drunken  ;  the  nations  have  drunken  of  her  wine,  therefore  the  nations 

are  mad. 

— Jeremiah,  51:  7. 

Babylon  is  suddenly  fallen  and  destroyed  ;  howl  for  her  ;  take  balm  for 
her  pain,  if  so  be  she  may  be  healed. 

O  thou  that  dwellest  upon  many  waters,  abundant  in  treasures,  thine  end 
is  come,  and  the  measure  of  thy  covetousness. 

And  Bablyon  shall  become  heaps,  a  dwelling  place  for  dragons,  an  aston- 
ishment, and  a  hissing  without  an  inhabitant. 

— Jeremiah,  51:  37. 


BEL-SHAR-UZZUR.  187 


BEL-SHAR-UZZUR. 

SCENE    I. 

BABYLON— THE  CITY. 

The  stainless  sun  arose  and  with  warm  rays 
Bathed  Babylon  in  fluttering  waves  of  gold, 
While  through  the  fertile  plains  of  palm  and  grain 
The  reedy  Araxes  like  a  snake  of  steel 
Crawled,  with  its  ripples  breaking  into  blue. 
Huge  Imgur-Bel,  the  vast  and  inner  wall 
Made  lustrous  by  the  warriors'  shining  shields, 
Thrust  to  the  sky  in  overwhelming  pride 
Its  haughty  bastions  peopled  like  a  hive, 
And,  from  the  outer  works,  Nimetti-Bel, 
The  bearded  guards  looked  down  upon  the  roads, 
Watching  the  loading  of  an  hundred  mules, 
With  neighing  steeds,  and  camels  gaunt,  in  lines 
That  reached  unto  Borsippa,  for  the  time 
For  caravans  had  come,  and  from  the  town 
Each  day  in  stately  numbers  they  went  forth 


188  BEL-SHAR-UZZUR. 

To  Bactria,  Media  and  to  Persia,  where 

They  sold  and  bartered  Babylonia's  wealth. 

Then  oxen,  panting  by  the  wooden  goad, 

Passed  slowly  through  the  city's  brazen  gates, 

With  tearful  eyes  appealing  to  the  slaves ; 

From  Calah  came  they,  laden  with  fresh  figs 

From  Erech,  Opis  and  Rehoboth  too, 

Dragging  rich  grain,  and  lettuce,  and  sweet  fruit. 

Ay,  and  from  Surripac,  and  from  Nipur, 

From  Resen  and  Arbela,  and  Accad, 

And  from  great  Nineveh,  the  sister  town. 

Swift  cedar-boats  upon  the  Libil  passed, 

And,  on  the  Naharmalcha,  known  to  all 

As  the  canal  of  great  Bel-shar-uzztir, 

Innumerable  vessels  steered  by  slaves 

Were  rowed  with  jests  and  curses  to  the  marts. 

The  marts  colossal  of  the  mighty  town, 

Deep  in  its  leafy  heart  of  cedar  groves, 

Near  Ai-ipur-sabu,  the  reservoir 

That  yielded  water  for  the  eager  throats 

Of  sweating  captives  building  in  the  sun. 

From  Sittace  they  came,  and  from  Ashur, 

And  from  Sargina  and  Nitocris  lake, 

Reeking  with  heavy  odors  of  hot  spice 


BEL-SHAR-UZZUR.  189 

Sweet  unto  the  fragrance  of  unnumbered  flowers, 
Burdened  with  melons  and  the  dainty  date. 
Then  in  the  booths  and  corners  of  the  mart 
The  pleasant  wares  were  garnered,  and  the  crowds 
With  money  in  their  palms  walked  to  and  fro, 
Tasting  and  handling  ere  they  purchase  made, 
And  as  they  passed  and  sneered  at  perfect  things 
Made  for  their  delectation  by  the  gods, 
The  market  women  called  to  them  and  sang. 


BEL-  SHA  R-  UZZ  UR. 


MARKET  SONG. 

Oh  good  passers,  stop  and  buy  ; 
Lend  an  ear  unto  our  cry  ; 

We  have  locusts  parched  and  luscious,  steeped  and  sweetened 
in  sweet  rain. 

We  have  honey  in  clay  jars, 
White  and  golden  as  the  stars, 

And  fat  Phasion  quails  in  saffron  pierced  and  captured  on 
the  plain. 

We  have  cinnamon  and  myrrh, 
And  the  mountain  foxes'  fur, 

We  have  spikenard,  and  red  resin,  and  sweet  incense  at  your 
choice  ; 

We  have  bdellium,  spice  and  salt, 
And  e'en  Beetis  would  exalt 

All  our  oils,  and  leeks,  and  perfumes,  that  can  make  the  heart 
rejoice. 

From  Sippara  and  Ashur, 
And  from  redolent  Nipur, 
We  buy  melons,  kids  and  cassia,  and  the  sweet  surripac  milk ; 


BEL-SHAR-UZZUR.  191 

And  from  Nineveh  the  grand 
We  have  brought  with  our  own  hand 
Choicest  flour  and  fruit,  and  natron,  and  the  sacred  violet  silk. 

We  have  pretty  birds  that  hum, 

We  have  barley-bread  and  gum, 

We  have  snouts  of  boars  and  badgers  and  the  tender  flanks  of 
deer  ; 

From  Kutu  we  led  with  pains 

Many  mules  with  many  grains  ; 
We  have  Eshcol  wine  in  plenty  and  ripe  figs  from  Calat  near. 

We  sell  dewy  plants  and  flowers 

To  make  sweet  the  sultry  hours  ; 
We  have  herbs  that  heal  diseases,  and  the  oil  of  the  tamar; 

We  have  venoms,  drugs  and  balms, 

And  the  frondage  of  the  palms, 

And  the  produce  of  great  Egypt  brought  o'er  deserts  from 
afar. 

Ah,  good  passer,  pause  and  buy ; 
Lend  an  ear  unto  our  cry  ; 

For  the  gods  and  for  your  dwellings,  for  the  beggar,  for  the 
beast, 


1 92  BEL-  SHA  R-  UZZUR. 

You  can  find  of  every  kind, 
To  suit  fancy,  taste  and  mind, 
For  the  altars  of  the  temple  or  the  splendor  of  the  feast. 

We  have  clover  sweet  and  fresh 
To  adorn  the  young  lamb's  flesh; 

We  have  lettuce,  grapes  and  madder,  and  the  dainty  durra- 
maise  ; 

We  have  olives  fat  or  sour, 

And  new  lemons  packed  in  flour, 

With  rare  apricots  and  peaches  culled  on  green  Accadian  ways. 

Then  would  the  wealthy  purchase  half  a  booth, 
And  the  thin  poor  would  stealthily  approach 
And  give  their  last  small  earning  for  a  leek. 


BEL-SHA  R-  UZZUR.  193 


THE  PALACE. 

And  in  the  square  arose  the  king's  great  home, 
The  palace  of  the  Lord  Bel-shar-uzzur, 
A  miracle,  a  wonder,  a  delight, 
Guarded  by  forms  majestic,  and  the  brows 
Of  puissant  gods,  and  bulls  with  human  heads, 
Winge'd  like  eagles,  aye,  and  figures  strange, 
Erect  or  couchant,  monsters  carved  in  stone, 
In  gold,  in  iron,  in  agate  and  in  wood, 
Emblems  sublime,  a  tribute  to  the  gods  ! 
Lo  !  there  were  many  carvings  on  the  walls 
In  high  relief,  with  clarity  of  tints  ; 
Memorials  of  the  triumphs  of  the  kings 
Here  were  set  forth  so  that  all  eyes  might  see 
The  rare  presentment  of  the  chase's  joys, 
And  all  the  stern  vicissitudes  of  war ; 
And,  in  artistic  chaos,  on  all  sides 
Were  figures  of  grim  horsemen,  bulls  and  boars, 
With  wounded  lions  and  fleet-footed  stags 
Running  by  rivers,  towns  and  arme'd  towers, 
And  with  them  there  were  chariots  and  slaves, 
And  many  forms  that  strangers  marveled  at. 

(13) 


1 94  BEL-  SHA  R-  UZZ  UR. 

Above  a  hundred  stately  pillars  rose, 
Supporting  painted  chambers  firmly  roofed 
With  polished  cedars  crusted  o'er  with  gold, 
Daubed  with  vermilion  to  assault  the  eye ; 
And  still  above  these  lofty  rooms  there  stood 
One  other,  built  on  ivory  columns,  carved 
In  rarest  ways,  beneath  a  roof  of  gold  ; 
While,  above  all,  a  miracle  of  skill, 
Was  poised  the  ever-sacred  pure  retreat 
Destined  and  held  for  King  Bel-shar-uzzur, 
When  to  the  stately  gods  he  deigned  to  pray. 

Firm  by  the  palace  gate  stood  two  great  pillars 
Of  rarest  sardonyx,  to  make  innocuous 
All  deadly  drugs,  all  deleterious  poisons, 
And  the  vast  breathing  body  of  the  palace 
Was  held  by  glittering  columns  in  such  numbers 
As  were  the  days  within  the  year  Assyrian, 
Or  furlongs  in  the  circuit  of  the  city. 

Then  came  a  cry,  and  lo  !  with  avid  eyes 
The  people  rushed  into  the  temple's  court, 
For  one,  a  bearded  Jew,  had  spat,  and  spat, 
Nine  times  upon  the  marble  of  a  god  ! 


BEL-SHAR-UZZUR.  195 

And  he  was  bruised  and  beaten  by  the  crowd, 
And  there  was  blood  upon  his  breast  and  hair, 
For  children  in  their  spite  had  torn  it  forth. 
And  they  were  right,  for  all  the  people  laughed, 
And  showed  him  limpid  water  in  a  bowl, 
For  well  they  knew  he  thirsted  and  was  faint, 
And  then  they  spilled  it  on  the  passing  swine. 


He  cried  unto  Jehovah,  and  his  God 

Was  silent  as  a  grain  of  sun-cursed  sand, 

And  then  the  people  laughed  again  and  pierced 

His  filthy  flanks  with  bodkins,  for  the  Jew 

Was  lean  and  bony,  and  his  only  food 

Was  garbage  thrown  as  offal  from  the  walls, 

By  the  Araxes  to  be  carried  far. 

"  Good  God,  Jehovah,  pity  him  !  "  they  cried. 


Then  from  the  temple  came  two  beardless  slaves, 
And  drave  into  the  earth  a  rod  of  brass, 
And  caught  the  Jew  as  would  a  child  a  toy, 
Then,  poising  him  with  hideous  jests,  they  forced 
His  quivering  body  down  upon  the  point 
And  left  him  groaning,  calling  to  his  God. 


196  BEL-SHAR-VZZUR. 

And  then  the  people  danced  with  all  delight, 
Smiting  the  Jew  with  stones  and  rotten  fruit, 
Aping  his  groans  and  writhing,  as  they  cried  : 
"  Call  to  thy  Jew-God  !     Bid  him  save  thee  now  ! " 
And  he  said  naught,  while  the  trained  slaves  drew  near, 
And  by  his  sweating  head  they  pushed  him  down 
Further  and  further  on  the  glittering  rod, 
That  shone  like  gold  upon  the  setting  sun. 


One  groan  he  made,  one  long  and  piteous  groan, 

Then  strove  to  twist  his  body  in  such  way 

That  the  offending  brass  would  pierce  the  heart, 

For  well  he  knew  that  if  he  failed  in  this, 

For  hours,  even  days,  he  would  live  hopeless  there, 

With  water  none,  the  target  of  the  town. 


And  he  did  fail,  and  all  the  people  knew 

That  he  had  failed,  and  yelled  a  mad  applause, 

For  now  he  had  no  strength  to  give  the  twist. 

"  Sweet  Jew!  "  they  cried,  "  watch  now  the  temple's  birds; 

They  love  thee  and  are  fond  of  Jewish  meat. 

Dung  for  their  taste !  "     And  as  they  spake,  the  crows 

And  carrion-kites  of  Babylonia  swept 


BEL-  SHA R-  UZZUR.  I97 

Above  his  yellowing  skin  and  made  the  air 
Dizzy  with  ebon  tumult,  ere  they  swooped 
With  fearful  hooke'd  claws  upon  their  prey, 
And  plucked  his  arid  eyes  out  for  their  food. 

Again  the  people  shouted,  and  the  Jew, 
Sightless  and  livid,  murmured  to  his  God, 
And  he  was  heard.     A  tremor  shook  his  bones, 
And  he  was  dead.     And  then  the  crowd  grew  still, 
Whispering  to  one  another  in  dismay  : 
"  Who  is  the  God  Jehovah  he  adores  ?  " 


SCENE  II. 

Above  the  splendor  of  the  brazen  gates, 

Above  the  walls  of  hieroglyphic  brick, 

Where  three  war-chariots  manned  could  run  abreast, 

Above  the  parapets  of  inlaid  gold, 

Above  the  porticoes  with  cedar  beamed, 

Above  the  arches,  terraces  and  all 

The  matchless  masonry  of  the  regal  town, 

Arose  the  hanging  gardens,  blessed  with  birds 

And  many  jutting  fountains,  and  great  oaks, 

Ay,  musical  at  eve  with  moaning  palms  ; 


198  BEL-  SHAR.  UZZUR. 

For  they  were  fashioned  in  this  wise  to  cheer 
Nebuchadnezzar's  ever  holy  wife, 
Sweet  Amyitis,  who  was  mountain-born, 
Far  on  the  Empire's  borders,  and  she  yearned 
For  leagues  of  grass  and  shadows  of  great  trees. 
And  Babylon,  the  queen  of  arts  and  arms, 
Of  mirth  and  warfare,  and  all  glorious  things, 
Was  unto  her  a  monster  girt  in  brass, 
Cursed  by  a  stinging  sun,  a  thing  to  hate. 
Therefore  the  grandsire  of  Bel-shar-uzzur, 
To  win  his  spouse's  rapture,  builded  these, 
Causing  the  world  to  marvel  and  to  cry  : 
"  Hail  to  great  Babylon,  the  queen  of  towns  !  " 

Here  played  the  queen  with  maidens  from  her  land, 
Jeweled  with  breastplates  and  tiaras  rare, 
And  with  her  birds,  and  gems,  and  amulets, 
She  dreamed  of  glory  and  Summuramit, 
Besprent  with  star-shaped  ornaments  to  show 
Her  origin  divine  was  from  the  stars, 
She  being  the  daughter  of  a  Midian  king. 
And  as  she  mused  she  heard  the  soldiers  sing 
Upon  the  parapets  far,  far  below. 


BEL-SHAR-UZZUR.  199 


CHORUS  OF  BABYLONIAN  WARRIORS. 

We  are  perfumed,  sleek  and  curled, 

We,  the  terror  of  the  world, 
And  we  march  upon  our  bastions  blowing  trumpets  of  defiance. 

We  have  only  one  desire, 

To  press  on  through  blood  and  fire, 
And  in  Moloch  the  majestic  we  have  absolute  reliance. 

Like  comets  shine  our  shields 
When  we  rush  upon  the  fields  ; 

There  on  earth  exists  no   nation  that  would   dare  to   show 
resistance 

When  our  startling  battle-cries 
Rise  in  fury  to  the  skies, 

When   we   fight   with   heavy   lances   and   the   gods'    sublime 
assistance. 

We  are  dreaded  far  and  wide  ; 
Of  the  King  we  are  the  pride, 

And  our  fame  has  spread  and  ripened  in  each  province  and 
each  village  ; 


200  BEL-SHAR-UZZUR. 

And  the  traitor's  native  ground 
Shakes  and  trembles  at  the  sound 

Of  our  coming  for  the  challenge,  for  the   combat,   for   the 
pillage  ! 

Our  long  terrifying  darts 

Hotly  pierce  the  rebel  hearts  ; 
Even  great  Nineveh,  our  sister,  as  a  proverb  hails  our  valor. 

We  have  jeweled  troops  of  horse 

When  we  charge  through  town  in  force, 

And  our  shields  of  brass  like  mirrors  e'er  reflect  the  foeman's 
pallor. 

In  our  lofty  zigurats, 

Idly  dreaming  on  our  mats, 

When  peace  reigns  in  the  dominion  and  the  city  burns  with 
pleasure, 

We  recall  with  fierce  delight 

The  last  echoes  of  the  fight, 
And  the  captured  shields  and  horses  of  the  enemy  we  treasure. 

Oh  great  Merodach,  appear  ! 
We  are  worn  of  rusting  here  ; 

Lead  us  onward  toward  the  Shuhites,  who  in  strife  were  beaten 
never ; 


BEL-SHAR-UZZUR.  201 

O'er  their  pastures  green  and  wide 
Let  us  insolently  ride, 

And  with^spear,  and  dart,  and  chariot  let  us  crush  them  down 
forever  ! 


SCENE  III. 

And  lo  !  one  hundred  prisoners  of  war, 

Taken  at  Memphis  righting  for  their  King, 

Who  cared  for  them  as  he  would  care  for  sand, 

And  who  refused  to  ransom  them  with  gold, 

Were  led  in  corded  couples  to  be  slain  ; 

And  to  their  honor  be  it  now  proclaimed 

That  not  one  passed  with  hot  or  weeping  eyes. 

Some  prayed  to  Isis  to  protect  their  lives, 

But  they  were  bowmen  and  cared  naught  for  death, 

And  if  the  god  were  silent,  they  would  die 

Without  a  murmur,  praising  Pharaoh  still. 

Now  many  dreamed  that  a  strong  whirring  lance, 
Hurled  at  their  breasts,  would  seek  and  find  their  hearts, 
Or  that  an  arrow  dancing  through  the  air 
Would  sink  within  their  foreheads,  nothing  more. 


202  BEL-SHAR-UZZUR. 

But  when  they  reached  the  quarter  for  their  tombs, 
They  saw  in  anguish  that  one  hundred  poles 
With  ropes  and  iron  bands  awaited  them, 
And  that  a  warrior's  death  they  could  not  claim. 

The  crowds  grew  dense  and  turbulent,  until 

Each  man  of  Egypt  had  been  firmly  bound 

Unto  the  pole  erected  for  his  woe, 

And  then  one  hundred  archers  left  the  ranks 

And  put  their  eyes  out  with  a  rush  of  spears, 

While,  as  they  fell  all  bloody  to  the  ground, 

The  dogs  of  Babylon  crunched  them  in  their  jaws. 

Dead  were  the  wretches  not,  and  many  men 

Skilled  in  the  art  of  torture  now  appeared, 

And,  cutting  with  sharp  iron  long  layers  of  skin, 

They  flayed  alive  these  unprotected  ones  ; 

Ay,  with  such  wondrous  craft  that  not  one  died, 

Although  they  spat  on  the  tormentor's  brows, 

And  for  this  sign  of  wrath  their  tongues  were  clipped 

While  people  were  allowed  to  hasten  near 

And  probe  their  skinless  breasts  with  jagged  stones. 

Then  they  were  left  to  broil  within  the  sun, 
And  keep  sweet  love  for  Pharoah  in  their  hearts, 


BEL-SHA  R-  UZZUR.  203 

Who,  with  rich  wines,  and  honey,  and  fair  girls, 
Was  dreaming  by  the  lotus  of  the  Nile. 
And  at  the  set  of  sun  four-score  were  dead, 
While  on  the  morrow  three  still  clung  to  life, 
And  these  were  taken  and  hurled  into  a  pit, 
There  finding  speedy  death  by  adder's  fangs, 
While  laughing  multitudes  with  shining  spades 
Poured  the  hot  sand  upon  them,  even  so. 


204  BEL-  SHA  R-  UZZ  UR. 


THE  TEMPLE. 

The  beacon  fire  blazed  from  the  tower  of  Bel, 

The  tower  held  sacred  to  the  highest  priest, 

And  lo!  the  incense  and  the  fragrant  wood 

Rose  in  sweet  vapor  to  the  attendant  gods, 

And  filled  their  mighty  nostrils  with  delight. 

The  brazen  tripod  holder  of  such  scent 

Was  holy  unto  them  ;  they  granted  prayers, 

Caused  rain,  gave  children,  victory  and  gold 

To  their  obedient  city,  dutiful. 

Yea,  and  he  blessed  the  fountains  and  the  doves 

Within  the  temple's  courts,  and  even  came 

Invisible  behind  the  crimson  silk 

That  curtained  their  choice  shrine,  and  calmly  gazed 

Upon  the  lotus  woven  thereon  in  gold  ; 

And  often,  calling  to  the  dazzled  priest 

Burning  delicious  santal  at  their  feet, 

Would  bid  him  summon  from  the  vineyards  near 

Some  favored  maid  who  sold  the  city  grapes, 

And  guide  her  trembling  limbs  with  surest  hand, 

Among  the  man-faced  lions  of  the  court, 


BEL-SHAR-UZZUR.  205 

Unto  his  shrine,  and  there  be  fond  with  her, 
All  for  his  glory,  for  the  priest's  delight 
Would  satisfy  the  cravings  of  the  god  ! 
And  so  it  came  to  pass  when  Beltis  spake, 
For,  if  the  maid  was  sweet  and  loved  her  god, 
She  was  to  gain  an  ell  of  Tyrian  silk, 
A  silver  lute,  and  have  her  choice  of  doves. 
Then  would  the  dull-eyed  eunuchs  bear  her  home 
And  leave  her,  happy,  fertile  by  her  god, 
Exempt  forever  from  Mylitta's  law. 

Here  of  the  gods  were  all  the  shrines  and  altars 
Blending  with  gold,  with  crimson,  silk  and  marble. 
Here  the  great  planetary  gods,  in  number 
Seven,  and  only  seven,  were  humbly  worshiped  : 
Adar  and  Nergal,  Merodach  with  Nebo, 
Ishtar  and  Bel,  and  Anu  the  all-holy. 
While  in  the  sacred  cincture  of  the  temple, 
Perfumed  and  flowerful,  stood  the  sacred  statues 
Of  Shamas,  the  god  of  light  and  all  things  beauteous, 
Of  Abitur,  the  lord  of  hills  and  mountains, 
Of  Moloch,  god  of  war  and  devastation, 
Of  El,  a  king  of  gods,  the  god  of  thunder  ; 
And  near  him,  gods  eleven,  who  obeyed  him, 
Although  they  also  were  high  gods  in  heaven. 


206  BEL-SHAR-  UZZUR. 

Here  were  the  deathless  spirits  of  heaven,  three  hundred, 

Adored  with  cries,  and  blood,  and  genuflections, 

Ay,  and  of  earth  six  hundred  perfect  spirits, 

With  Mulge,  god  of  under-worlds,  their  master, 

And  Hea,  lord  of  earth  and  king  of  rivers. 

Unto  great  Vul,  the  god  of  rain,  a  clamor 

Rose  from  the  people,  for  the  fields  were  arid 

In  distant  valleys  of  the  mighty  Empire, 

And,  though  they  lived  in  bounteous  abundance, 

Their  hearts  grew  sore  to  think  of  starving  brothers. 


Then  came  sweet  maidens  praying  unto  Beltis, 
With  choruses  of  praise  and  tinkling  timbrels, 
Hailing  the  great  god  Ashtaroth,  who  near  her 
Breathed  upon  earth  the  spirit  of  all  beauty  ; 
For  he  was  crowned  with  stars  and  lord  of  serpents. 
To  eagle-headed  Nisroch  came  the  warriors, 
Fresh  from  a  hundred  fields  of  bestial  carnage, 
And  hailed  him  and  his  neighbor  god,  fierce  Dagon. 
Yea,  and  they  hailed  Bel-shar-uzzur's  sweet  mother, 
Nitocris  fair  and  radiant  as  the  sunrise, 
Beloved  of  El  and  Bel,  the  lords  of  Sumia, 
Beloved  of  Gule,  the  serene  sun-goddess, 
And  of  sweet  Sin,  the  lustrous,  loving  moon-god. 


BEL-  SHA  R-  UZZUR.  207 

Then,  having  bowed  before  the  lofty  rulers, 
The  people,  trembling  as  the  grass  in  tempests, 
Came  to  a  shrine  above  all  others  holy, 
The  emblem  of  some  awful  power  superior 
To  fate  and  to  eternity,  an  essence 
Symbolical,  omnipotent  and  mystic, 
Vaguely  expressed  by  one  great  golden  circle 
Encompassed  by  a  wheel  of  wings  angelic  ! 


Then  toward  the  statue  of  immortal  Vul 
Five  hundred  scented  priests  with  solemn  tread 
Marched,  bearing  lambs  for  slaughter,  and  much  spice, 
And  at  his  altars'  grees  made  pause  and  sang  : 


CHORUS  TO  VUL. 

Our  robes  are  flounced,  oh  Vul !  our  caps  are  horned  ; 
For  thy  sweet  sake  with  flowers  we  have  adorned 

Our  flanks. 

We  are  one  thousand  who  unto  thee  give, 
While  thou,  supreme,  dost  deign  to  let  us  live, 

Our  thanks. 


208  BEL-SHAR-UZZUR. 

Our  cheeks  are  rubbed  with  pumice,  and  our  arms 
Are  naked  kept,  to  celebrate  thy  charms ; 

Our  wrists 

Are  palsied  by  our  bracelets,  and  we  guide 
Lovers  unto  thy  shrine,  and  guard  with  pride 

Their  trysts. 

Our  sandals  are  embroidered,  and  the  white 
Of  all  our  gowns  rivals  Ishtar's  at  night, 

And  deep 

Within  our  breast  thy  mystic  lotus-flower, 
Emblem  divine  of  thy  divinest  power, 

We  keep. 

Upon  our  fillets  and  our  ear-rings'  gold, 
The  mystic  circle  graven  there  behold 

Of  Fate. 

We  worship  thee  with  many  harps  and  reeds, 
For  early  thou  attendest  to  our  needs, 

And  late. 

Saban  the  eunuch  guards  thy  sacred  shrine 
And,  doing  so,  is  sacred  and  divine 
To  all ; 


BEL.  SNA  /?-  UZZUR.  209 

For  we  arise  when  in  the  noiseless  night 
We  hear  in  tones  that  even  Kallassan  fright, 
Thy  call ! 

Great  Vul !  we  stand  here  robed  to  please  thee  now  ; 
Blood  spilt  for  thee  is  clotted  on  our  brow, 

Oh  Vul  ! 

Thy  presence  we  have  summoned,  thrills  and  awes  ; 
Favor  us,  Wonder  !  and  Death's  sternest  laws 

Annul  ! 

The  city  knew  the  king  had  deigned  to  bathe 
In  lake  Nitocris  for  his  mother's  sake, 
For  twenty  slaves  had  filled  the  lake  with  spice, 
And  delicious  herbs,  and  many  loads  of  flowers, 
And  Sethos,  the  good  man  who  bore  his  cup, 
Had  passed  the  city's  gates  with  fruit  and  wine, 
And  armed  attendant  guarded  the  king's  gems, 
For  he  wore  gold  and  rubies  when  he  bathed. 

The  holder  of  the  royal  parasol 
Stood  iri  the  sun,  and  then  the  envied  guard 
Who  bore  the  shield  of  great  Bel-shar-uzzur 
Appeared,  and  with  him  hosts  of  shining  men, 

(14) 


210  BEL-  SHA  R-  UZZUR. 

Leading  the  banners  of  great  Merodach, 
And  horses  burdened  by  their  straps  of  gold, 
And  many  chariots  armed  with  iron  scythes. 
The  royal  tent,  tufted  with  ostrich  plumes, 
Was  carried  by  fair  women  to  the  bath, 
And  in  it  they  reposed  on  scented  mats 
To  give  the  monarch  pleasure  by  their  limbs. 
And  lo  !  the  trumpets  sounded,  and  the  lyres 
For  the  great  king,  mighty  Bel-shar-uzzur, 
Entered  the  chariot  with  bejeweled  feet, 
While  all  the  people  bowed  unto  the  dust. 
And  at  the  sight  men  slew  themselves  with  joy, 
And  this  was  told  unto  the  king,  who  smiled 
And  bade  the  corpses  to  be  natroned  well 
For  swift  interment  in  the  city's  vaults, 
The  price  thereof  to  come  from  his  own  purse. 


SCENE  IV. 

Then,  with  dark  locks  all  filleted  and  spiced, 
A  dainty  harlot  boldly  sauntered  by, 
With  pretty  shoulder-shrugs  to  please  the  crowds, 
And  tempting  undulations  of  the  hips, 


BEL-  SHA  R-  UZZUR.  2 1 1 

And  singing  as  she  went  inspiring  songs 

That  lured  the  callow  students  from  their  doors, 

Who  greeted  her  with  ribald  words  and  strolled 

Back  to  their  cellars,  for  they  had  no  gold, 

And,  lacking  gold,  they  could  possess  her  not. 

Therefore  they  hated  their  superior's  wealth, 

And  sneered  at  Vul,  who  would  not  give  them  love, 

Ay,  cursed  the  gods  who  left  them  without  coin. 

Heedless  of  this  young  lust,  the  harlot  passed, 
Imperious,  crying:    "Give  me  bricks  of  gold, 
Or  galbanum,  or  precious  gems,  and  then 
I  will  do  for  thee  what  to  all  I  do  ! 
I  will  revere  thee  as  a  god  by  night, 
If  thou  art  strong  and  if  thou  ownest  gold  !  " 
Then,  pausing,  with  her  lovely  eyes  aflame, 
She  wove  a  wreath  of  roses,  singing  thus  : 


a  ia  BEL-SHA  R-  UZZUR. 


SONG. 

Oh  Mylitta  !    hear  my  prayer  ! 

Send  me  lovers  rich  and  fair, 
For  I  languish  in  desertion  and  my  bosom  pants  for  pleasure  ; 

And  to  thank  thee  with  all  zeal, 

In  the  temple  I  will  kneel, 

And  will  bring  thee  spice  and  ointments,  and  a  portion  of  my 
treasure. 

Thou,  who  gazest  from  the  stars, 

Thou,  whose  glory  nothing  mars, 

Take  sweet  pity  on  thy  servant,  who  in  wanton  pride  obeys 
thee. 

To  do  honor  to  thy  feast 

I  have  given  my  flesh  to  priests, 
To  the  priests  my  lips  deserted,  but  in  sacrifice  to  praise  thee. 

By  thy  beauty  I  am  graced, 
Yet  the  city's  ways  I  traced 
Many  times  since  fall  of  sunlight,  and  I  find  no  compensation. 


BEL-SHAR-UZZUR.  213 

All  the  warriors  have  smiled, 
By  my  loveliness  beguiled, 

But  the  king  has  held   their  payment,   and  their  looks  are 
hesitation. 

Oh  Mylitta  !  for  thy  sake, 

When  to  dawn  mine  eyes  did  wake, 
I  made  purchase  of  sweet  unguents  and  red  roses  for  my  tresses. 

In  mine  eyes  there  lurks  the  fire 

Of  unquenchable  desire, 
Yet  the  striplings  of  the  city  spurn  my  beauty  and  caresses. 

Oh  Mylitta  !   goddess  sweet, 

I  have  lingered  at  thy  feet, 
In  the  temple's  shrine  mysterious  with  thy  priestesses  ecstatic  ; 

I  have  given  to  them  my  breast, 

When  by  hunger  sore  oppressed, 
To  appease  thy  righteous  rancor  in  thy  garments  emblematic. 

I  have  roses  in  my  hair, 

My  white  breast  is  oiled  and  bare, 
I  have  kisses  warm  and  cunning  to  excite  a  youth  to  sue  me. 

Oh  Mylitta  !  hear  my  prayer, 

And  send  lovers  rich  and  fair, 
With  silk  robes,  or  gold,  or  spices,  ere  the  morn  awakens  to  me  ! 


214  BEL-  SHA  R-  UZZ  UR. 

And  for  thee  in  swift  return, 

For  a  day  I  will  sojourn 
In  the  temple  as  the  plaything  of  the  bearded  priests  audacious, 

And  when  sighing  in  their  arms, 

I  will  praise  thy  wondrous  charms, 

And  will  sing  thee  songs  of  rapture,  oh  Mylitta !  white  and 
gracious  ! 


Then  from  the  swaying  crowd  an  aged  man, 

A  Ninevite,  so  reckoned  by  his  curls, 

Broke  loose  and  stopped  the  harlot  with  his. hand, 

Placing  a  bit  of  silver  in  her  breast, 

And  to  her  tent  she  guided  him,  while  all 

Watched  them  with  envy  glaring  in  their  eyes. 

Deep  in  the  labyrinth  of  Bit-Saggath, 
In  dismal  vaults  illumed  by  flickering  lamps, 
The  skilled  Embalmers  of  far  Egypt  work, 
And,  toiling,  sing  loud  praises  of  themselves. 


BEL-  SHA  R-  UZZ  UR.  215 


CHORUS  OF  SKILLED  EMBALMERS  FROM  EGYPT. 

We  toil  within  the  temple's  crypts,  with  ghastly  dead  beside  us, 
The  horrors  of  our  handiwork  from  people  oft  divide  us, 
And  yet  we  all  are  merry  men,  right  fond  of  jest  and  laughter, 
And,  being  bosom  friends  of  Death,  we  fear  not  the  hereafter. 
From  corpses  stark  we  draw  the  brains,  and  cleanse  with  drugs 

delicious, 

We  purge  the  emptied  bodies  clean  of  mortal  soilure  vicious, 
With  costly  palm-wine,  sweetest  oil  and  perfumes  aromatic, 
And  fill  the  spirit  of  the  clay  with  gratitude  ecstatic. 


We  place  within  the  silent  flesh  bruised  myrrh,  and  salt,  and 

spices, 

Then  press  in  natron  seventy  days,  and  while  it  rests,  devices 
Of  subtle  kind  and  rarest  art  we  fashion  for  the  mourners, 
And  all  great  Babylon  knows  well  that  we  are  skilled  adorners. 
When  ready  for  our  nimble  touch,  the  litheness  of  our  fingers, 
Again  the  perfumed  solid  flesh  in  our  deep  work-house  lingers, 


2 1 6  BEL-  SHA  R-  UZZ  UR. 

And,  smeared  with  gum  and  bandaged  well,  we  place  it  in  our 

cases, 

And  decorate  with  images  of  gods,  and  flowers,  and  places. 
So,  upright  it  is  given  to  those  who  all  it's  worth  did  cherish, 
To  rest  within  its  sepulcher  until  the  earth  shall  perish  ! 


Within  the  bandages  we  lay  papyri,  glass  and  agate, 

To  serve  the  dead  on  some  far  day  and  guard  him  from  the 

maggot  ; 

And  scarabei,  and  amulets,  with  rings  and  bracelets  golden, 
We  place  beside  the  withered  palms  as  is  the  custom  olden, 
For  only  bodies  of  the  poor  when  washed,  and  boiled,  and 

salted, 

In  common  wood,  in  common  clay,  go  up  to  the  Exalted. 
Of  sacred  animals  we  clean  the  crocodiles  and  lizards, 
And  send  them  to  our   temples  vast  for  sale  to  priests  and 

wizards, 

With  natroned  fish  and  ibises,  with  serpents,  apes  and  cattle, 
And  many  a  valiant  warrior's  horse  that  neighed  out  blood  in 

battle. 

We  have  perfumed  the  holy  bulls,  and  many  a  cat  and  vulture 
Will  live  until  the  world  doth  fall  and  by  our  fingers'  culture, 
And  many  dogs,  and  many  rams,  with  curled  asps  and  foxes, 
Remain  immortal  in  their  sleep  within  our  scented  boxes. 


BEL-SHAR-UZZUR.  217 

While  in  the  mammoth  temple  overhead, 
Whose  pillars  pierce  the  very  flanks  of  heaven, 
Old,  withered  men,  grim  guardians  of  the  scrolls, 
And  manuscripts,  and  archives  of  the  gods, 
Stammer  with  toothless  mouths,  and  feebly  whine 
Strange  cadences  to  Assur-bani-pal. 


2 1 8  BEL-  SHA  R-  UZZ  UR. 


CHORUS. 

Hail,  hail  to  Assur-bani-pal  the  great, 

Whose  fame  was  guarded  by  a  people  jealous  ! 
Hail  to  the  kings  he  labored  to  create  ! 

Hail  to  his  mages  in  their  worship  zealous  ! 
Hail  to  his  reign  in  Nineveh,  where  came 

To  bow  the  knee  the  sovereigns  he  created, 
Ay,  from  his  lips  a  simple  word  to  claim, 

And  leave  in  fear  and  trembling,  but  elated  ! 
Hail  to  the  puissant  and  all-holy  name 

Of  Necho,  king  of  Memphis,  stern  and  powerful ! 
And  Pisan-hor,  who  could  the  lions  tame, 

Near  Natho,  his  great  city  walled  and  towerful  ! 
Hail  to  Pagruru,  of  far  Pisupt  king  ! 

And  Pukkimanin-hapi  of  Athribis, 
Hail  and  revere  him  as  a  holy  thing ; 

Bow  in  the  dust  before  his  sword  and  ibis. 

Great  Assur-bani-pal,  years,  years  ago, 

Made  Nech-ke  king  of  Henins  in  his  glory, 


BEL-  SHA  R-  UZZ  UK.  219 

And  Petubastes  summond  by  his  bow 

At  Tanis  reigned  until  his  brows  grew  hoary. 
Hail,  hail !  he  sent  Unamunu  the  fair 

To  Natho  as  his  humble  lord  and  vassal, 
And  Sheshonk  to  Busiris,  even  there 

To  live  in  fat,  and  plenty,  and  in  wassail. 
Iptikhardesu  he  did  deign  to  send 

To  far  Pazatti-hurunpi  Ku's  palace, 
To  be  its  king  and  force  all  foes  to  bend, 

Foes  ever  rilled  with  hostile  hate  and  malice. 
And  Necht-hor-ansini  of  Pi-sabdnut 

In  ways  imperious  cherished  and  upheld  him, 
And  in'his  temples,  Zika  of  Siyout 

The  fattest  brutes  in  sacrifices  felled  him. 
Hail,  hail  to  Assur-bani-pal  the  great  ! 

Mark  on  your  tablets'  clay  in  writing  mystic 
How  Lamintu  to  Chemmis  draped  in  state 

Brought  to  his  people  offerings  cabalistic, 
And  hail  to  Assur-bani-pal,  for  he 

Sent  Munti-Manche  to  the  Theban  city  ! 
Hail  to  his  triumph  over  land  and  sea  ! 

Hail  to  his  grace,  his  valor  and  his  pity  ! 

Bel-shar-uzzur,  returning  from  the  bath, 
Thinks  of  the  gods  within  the  walls  of  Bel, 


220  BEL-SHAR-UZZUR. 

And  can  remember  that  he  has  not  prayed 

For  hours  eleven  ;  therefore  he  commands 

His  hosts  to  halt  before  the  sacred  shrines. 

And,  as  he  has  but  paltry  time  to  waste, 

And  yet  must  all  propitiate,  he  cries 

Unto  his  herald  :  "  Call  grave  Kalassan, 

And  bid  the  flounced  priests  in  solemn  ways 

Pray  for  their  king  the  war  god  Merodach, 

And  likewise  tender  worship  unto  El, 

And  unto  Hea,  Nisroch,  and  to  Sin  !  " 

For  see,  the  king  is  weary  of  the  bath, 

And  he  is  fain  with  sleep  to  kill  an  hour. 

Pray  for  him,  priests  !     And  lo  !  the  priests  obeyed, 

And,  as  Bel-shar-uzziir  returned  in  state 

To  taste  the  kisses  of  a  favorite  slave 

Caught  in  the  snowy  mountains  of  the  north, 

A  woman  with  long  tresses  touched  with  gold, 

Who  lured  his  wasting  fancies  by  her  charm, 

The  roar  of  sacerdotal  lungs  arose. 


BEL-  SHA  R.  UZZ  UJf.  221 


CHORUS  OF  PRIESTS. 

Great  Merodach,  first-born  of  gods,  we  hail  thee  ! 
We  slay  with  fire  the  foes  that  dare  assail  thee  ! 
Oh,  mighty  god  of  war  and  desolation  ! 
In  thee  there  dwells  no  pity  and  no  error. 
Thy  glance  is  death,  thy  very  name  is  terror, 
Thy  touch  is  flame,  thy  breath  extermination  ! 

Great  Hea,  lord  of  all  the  earth,  we  praise  thee  ! 
Spice-burning  altars  we  forever  raise  thee. 
Thou  art  the  god  majestic  of  all  rivers, 
And  in  our  sacred  violet  robes  we  wonder 
When  overhead  we  hear  thy  ominous  thunder, 
When  mighty  Babylon  in  stupor  quivers  ! 

Great  El,  of  gods  the  highest,  we  adore  thee  ! 
In  deep  humility  we  bow  before  thee. 

Thou  art  the  lord  of  Sumir  green  and  flowerful  ; 
Thou  reignest  pure  above  the  earth's  affliction 
Thy  voice  is  one  of  peace  and  benediction  ; 
We  hail  thy  august  shadow,  calm  and  powerful  ! 


222  BEL-  SNA  R-  UZZ  UR. 

Great  Sin  !  before  thine  altars  rot  the  corses 
Of  hundreds  captured  by  our  armored  forces, 

And  from  the  moon,  where  thou  dost  have  thy  dwelling, 
Thou  canst  look  down  and  canst  behold  the  gory 
And  withered  heads  that  now  attest  thy  glory, 
And  hear  thy  praise  through  twenty  temples  swelling  ! 

Prodigious  Bin  !  god  of  the  deafening  thunder 
And  all  the  gems  that  in  the  world  lie  under, 
Protect  us  from  the  insolence  of  foemen  ; 

Blight  with  thy  breath  the  curses  that  distress  us  ; 
With  fertile  fields  and  heavy  harvests  bless  us  ; 
Disclose  thy  presence  by  some  sudden  omen  ! 

Stupendous  Dagon  !  god  of  waves  and  fishes, 
Harken,  we  pray  thee,  to  our  humble  wishes  ; 
Fill  thy  true  people's  nets  with  rare  provision  ; 
Save  from  the  havoc  of  the  angry  waters 
The  labors  of  our  city's  sons  and  daughters, 
And  we  can  taunt  the  storm-fiend  in  derision  ! 

And,  oh  Mylitta  !  in  sweet  generation 
We  beg  of  thee  to  multiply  our  nation  ; 
Let  not  our  supple  maidens  perish  sterile  ; 


BEL-  SHA  A'-  UZZ  UR.  223 

Guard  them,  thy  chosen,  from  the  fiends  infernal ; 
May  they  grow  fructuous  as  the  meadows  vernal ; 
And  save  their  beauty  from  the  city's  peril. 

And'thou,  oh  Nisroch  !  thou,  the  eagle-headed, 
Thou,  the  malignant  wonder,  stern  and  dreaded, 
Guard  us  from  sin  and  from  all  disaffection  ; 
Upon  bare  knees  we  worship  thee  as  holy  ; 
In  thee  our  faith  is  ever  centered  solely  ; 
Grant  us,  great  god,  thy  treasureful  protection  ! 

Then,  like  a  wind  that  bursts  in  a  simoom, 
The  royal  archers,  passing  through  the  gates, 
Rushed  quickly  toward  the  temple,  for  they  hoped 
To  hail  the  king  and  thunder  forth  their  praise  ; 
For  they  knew  well  how  he  admired  their  songs. 
So,  singing  in  their  rancous  soldier  way, 
They  told  their  prowess  to  the  listening  town, 
Forever  gladdened  when  these  favorites  passed. 


224  BEL-  SHA  R-  UZZ  UR. 


SONGS  OF  ARCHERS. 

We  are  the  strong  archers, 

The  wonderful  marchers, 
Who  pass  through  the  fields  with  a  rattle  of  quivers  ; 

The  god  Bin  protects  us, 

His  thunder  delects  us, 
The  blood  of  our  foes  stains  the  foam  of  our'rivers  ! 

Their  hosts  are  confounded 

By  terror  unbounded, 
When  singing  we  pass  in  our  armor  defiant  ; 

At  Memphis's  battle 

We  slew  them  like  cattle, 
And  trod  them  to  dust  with  the  steps  of  a  giant  ! 

Our  limbs  are  athletic, 

Our  war-cry  frenetic, 
Our  spears  by  the  priests  have  been  made  talismanic  ; 

Wherever  they  glisten, 

The  foes  in  fear  listen 
And  fly  for  the  shelter  of  towns  in  their  panic. 


BEL-SHAR-UZZUR.  225 

Our  king  has  admired  us, 

His  smile  has  inspired  us, 
He  hails  at  Bit-Saggath  our  prowesses/yearly ; 

He  can  call  us  his  glorious 

Brave  soldiers  victorious, 
And  oft  at  our  valor  he  marvels  sincerely. 

The  insolent  Cissions, 

By  sins  and  omissions, 
Are  now  his  vile  slaves,  with  their  children  and  houses  ; 

And  oft  does  he  praise  us, 

And  flatter  and  daze  us 
By  words  of  great  cheer  when  he  sings  and  carouses. 

The  Elamites'  city 

We  sacked  without  pity  ; 
Its  gods  and  its  warriors  could  never  withstandfus  ; 

Our  death-dealing  arrows 

Were  swifter  than  sparrows, 
And  Moloch  and  Merodach  deigned  to  command  us. 

We  are  the  strong  archers, 
The  wonderful  marchers, 
Who  pass  through  the  fields  with  a  rattle  of  quivers  ; 

(15) 


226  BEL-SHAR-VZZUR. 

The  god  Bin  protects  us, 
His  thunder  delects  us, 
The  blood  of  our  foes  stains  the  foam  of  our  rivers 

Bel-shar-uzzur,  as  curious  as  a  child, 

Entered  the  gardens  where  his  beasts  were  fed  ; 

For  he  was  proud  of  animals  and  birds, 

Loving  them  more  than  women  and  than  men. 

And  slaves  walked  with  him,  bearing  meat  and  fruit 

To  throw  unto  his  pets  as  he  desired. 

And  there  were  seventy  lions  in  a  pit, 

Roaring  with  hunger,  and  the  monarch  laughed 

And  bade  a  slave,  Assarapac  by  name, 

One  who  that  morn  had  broken  a  sontal  face, 

To  leap  into  the  pit. 

The  craven  bowed 

His  doomed  head  in  dust  and  shrieked  for  grace, 
But  there  was  none,  and  as  he  failed  to  leap, 
Headlong  they  cast  him  down  amid  the  brutes, 
And  ere  his  body  sank  upon  the  sand, 
The  ravenous  monsters  gnawned  it  to  red  shreds. 

This  pleased  the  king,  and  to  his  guard  he  said  : 
"  Have  others  of  my  household  proved  amiss  ?  " 


BEL-SHAR-UZZUR.  227 

And  no  one  spake,  until  a  soldier  said  : 
"  No,  mighty  king,  their  duty  has  been  done." 
And  this  he  said  because  he  lived  on  quails, 
On  fat  and  Eschol  wine,  and  he  was  fond 
Of  jests  and  music,  and  his  soul  was  good, 
Because  his  body  was  as  sleek  as  oil. 

Then  did  the  king  throw  fruitage  to  his  goats, 
And  pullets  to  the  foxes  in  their  lairs, 
And  his  great  bears  he  pelted  with  rich  sweets, 
Laughing  to  see  them  smell  the  perfumed  ground 
And  lick  up  gravel  with  the  sticky  meats. 

The  crocodiles  that  spawned  within  the  Nile, 
Gift  of  ^Egyptia's  king,  he  likewise  fed 
With  human  flesh,  or  with  a  live  gazelle, 
And  many  a  deer,  and  to  his  grunting  boars 
He  threw  sweet  nuts  and  acorns  with  his  hand, 
Laughing  and  grinning  like  a  chubby  babe. 

And  one  flamingo,  one  he  loved  the  most, 
Was  ill,  its  neck  all  ruffled  by  a  lynx. 
Therefore  he  placed  it  in  the  vipers'  hole  ; 
The  horned  cerastes,  a  most  deadly  thing, 
Which  bit  the  bird  and  eyed  it  growing  cold. 


228  BEL-  SHA  R-  UZZ  UR. 

Then  the  great  king  made  visit  to  his  lynx, 

His  petted  lynx,  chained  to  a  cage  of  gold, 

And  fed  from  golden  dishes  ;  but  his  wolves 

Had  brazen  dishes  only,  like  the  dogs, 

And  these  he  fed  with  many  living  birds, 

Fat  quails  and  bitterns,  geese  and  porcupines, 

And  he  grew  merry  at  the  slaughter  there, 

And  bade  four  slaves  to  lie  upon  the  soil 

Until  the  elephants  his  father  trained 

Approached  to  stamp  their  lives  out  with  huge  feet, 

For  this  delighted  him  and  all  the  court. 

Then,  as  he  rambled  through  the  green  pastures, 
He  came  unto  his  panthers  lithe  and  fierce, 
Who  glared  upon  him  with  grave  golden  eyes  ;    . 
And  these  he  fed  with  camel  flesh  and  rats, 
And  jerboa  meat  and  ibexes  alive, 
While  his  hyenas  snorted  for  their  share  ; 
But  they  were  filthy  things  and  had  to  starve 
Until  each  second  day,  when  Jews  were  slain, 
And  them  they  could  devour  like  stinking  beasts. 

Now,  as  the  king  was  weary  and  amort, 
He  bade  his  slaves  tie  two  fat  beavers  up 


BEL-SHAR-UZZUR.  229 

And  hurl  them  in  a  pit  where  leopards  glared  ; 

And  it  was  done,  while  from  the  parapet 

He  watched  the  supple  monsters  fiercely  gorge. 


Around  the  brazen  porches  of  the  town 
Huge  obelisks  were  dragged  by  panting  men, 
To  grace  the  lanes  and  highways  of  the  realm, 
And  all  were  slaves  captured  in  Theban  sands, 
Who  still  revered  their  king  and  loved  their  gods. 
And  when  their  masters,  weary  of  the  sun 
That  smote  their  faces,  lingered  in  the  shade, 
Forgetting  that  their  goads  were  idle,  yea, 
When  the  taskmasters  loitered  near  the  gates 
To  purchase  water  from  a  gum-girl  fair 
Or  dally  with  a  harlot  in  the  trench, 
Then,  in  their  flowing  mother-tongue,  beloved 
And  idolized  of  them,  they  would  repeat 
This  dolorous  appeal  with  humid  eyes  : 


330  BEL-  SHA  R-  UZZUR. 


CHORUS  OF  EGYPTIAN  PRISONERS. 

Oh  !  we  can  remember  the  melons  and  vetches 
That  grew  in  our  sunny  and  beautiful  land, 

Before  the  impure  Babylonian  wretches 

Had  covered  our  armies  with  cerements  of  sand ! 

Yea,  we  can  remember  the  palm-crowned  vases, 

With  rivulets  running  more  beautiful  far 
Than  all  the  broad  plains  and  the  meadow-grown  places 

That  girdle  this  town  to  the  end  of  Shinar. 

We  think  of  our  gods  and  our  temples  deserted, 
Still  glorious  without  us,  while  here  we  are  slaves  ; 

We  go  to  our  labor  with  damp  eyes  averted, 
And  dream  of  the  spot  of  our  ancestors'  graves. 

No  more  shall  we  see  in  its  silvery  splendor 
The  glittering  rush  of  the  fall  of  the  Nile  ; 

No  more  shall  we  hurry  to  crush  the  offender, 
No  more  shall  we  bask  in  our  sovereign's  smile. 


BEL.  SHA  R-  UZZ  UR.  231 

For  Ammon,  the  king  of  all  gods,  has  betrayed  us, 
And  Knuphis,  the  god  of  oases,  seems  dead ; 

They  sullenly  let  the  Assyrian  invade  us, 

And  yet  we  will  worship  no  gods  in  their  stead  ! 

Great  Ptah  with  the  cat,  ever  holy,  as  symbol, 
And  Khem,  god  of  nature,  has  left  us  in  woe, 

Though  often  our  feet  and  our  fingers  were  nimble 
To  praise  him  with  dances  and  harps  long  ago  ! 

Oh  Isis  !  Osiris  !  oh  Ptah  !  do  not  leave  us 

To  fruitlessly  perish  in  agony  here  ! 
The  gods  of  Assyria  mock  and  deceive  us ! 

Their  mercy  far  more  than  their  anger  we  fear ! 

Oh  Nepti,  thou  mother  of  gods  far  above  us  ! 

Oh  Ra,  mighty  sun  we  adore  in  the  day  ! 
Oh  Thoth  of  the  Ibis,  who  promised  to  love  us  ! 

Oh  Min  of  the  sunlight,  pray  lead  us  away  ! 

Hail  Pasht  and  Anieke",  Maut,  Tafne*  and  Horus  ! 

Hail  Athor  and  Savak  !     In  you  we  still  trust ! 
Oh,  join  giant  voices  in  one  mighty  chorus, 

And  level  foul  Babylon  down  to  the  dust ! 


232  BEL-  SHAR-  UZZUR. 

And  as  they  toiled  and  sweated  with  their  bricks, 

Fainting  from  fever  when  the  stone  rebelled, 

A  long  procession  of  the  city's  dames, 

All  garlanded  with  lotus  and  sweet  flowers, 

With  leather  amulets  upon  their  breasts, 

Passed  in  unto  the  temple's  square,  where  towered 

The  enormous  golden  phalli  wreathed  with  leaves, 

And  on  their  tops  communed  a  bearded  priest, 

Such  was  the  law,  for  seven  days  and  nights, 

Such  was  the  fashion  of  the  Zir-basiet. 

And  all  the  women  gazed  upon  the  gold 

And  sang  with  fervor  as  they  placed  their  wreaths : 


BEL-SHAR-UZZUR.  233 


PHALLIC  SONG. 

Oh,  thrice  holy  and  delightful  golden  phallus  ! 

Now  before  thee  in  dumb  ecstasy  we  kneel  ; 
To  our  prayers  and  supplications  be  not  callous, 

Mighty  Vul,  whose  sign  we  worship  with  all  zeal  ! 

We  have  bathed  our  bodies  pure  in  the  Araxes, 
To  be  fairer  and  more  supple  at  thy  rites, 

For  the  ardor  in  our  bodies  stronger  waxes, 

And  we  long  to  know  thy  sweet  voluptuous  nights  ! 

Listen,  Vul  !  unto  our  lyre's  serene  vibrations  ; 

Make  us  fertile  as  the  blossoms  on  the  plain  ; 
Grant  us  pleasure  much  and  exquisite  sensations  ; 

Let  thy  kisses  fall  upon  us  like  a  rain  ! 

For  behold  thy  glorious  phallus  decked  and  flowerful, 
With  a  star  of  gold  that  glitters  far  above, 

And  behold  our  lamps  that  burn  beneath,  Oh  powerful, 
Ever  holy  god  that  lives  and  breathes  in  love. 


234  BEL-SHAR-UZZUR. 

Here  in  monstrous  Bit-Saggath,  thy  temple  splendid, 
We  adore  thee  with  the  timbrel's  silvery  noise, 

And  we  beg  of  thee  until  our  lives  are  ended 
Sweet  continuance  of  all  warm  and  fleshly  joys  ! 

For,  oh  Vul  !  thou  art  the  symbol  of  creation, 
And  sweet  Beltis  is  thy  consort  white  and  warm, 

And  we  worship  thee  with  passion's  exultation 
In  the  beauty  of  thy  gold-terrestrial  form  ! 

We  have  amulets  that  bear  thy  sign  engraven, 
And  when  ardors  burn  upon  our  bosoms  bare, 

In  thy  temple  we  can  find  a  precious  haven, 

And  are  cloyed  by  all  the  sweetness  hidden  there. 

Oh  thrice  holy,  all-delightful  golden  phallus  ! 

Hover  o'er  us  when  we  toil  and  when  we  dream  ; 
Haunt  our  humble  home  and  haunt  our  monarch's  palace, 

And  upon  us  all  shower  down  thy  gifts  supreme  ! 

A  priest  of  Nebo,  the  great  god  supreme, 

A  priest  whose  mouth  was  warm  with  flowery  words 

And  lovely  phrasings  of  his  mother  tongue, 

Gentle  and  supple,  twisted  like  a  reed 

By  his  fair  fancy,  in  the  temple  rose 


BEL-SHA  R-  VZZUR.  235 

And  taught  the  children,  who  assembled  there, 

Some  of  the  signs  of  worship  of  the  gods. 

In  Chaldee,  the  sweet  idiom  of  the  town, 

He  spake  to  them,  and  told  them  seven  stars, 

Five  planets  and  the  sun,  yea,  and  the  moon, 

Timed  the  advance  of  this  the  fertile  earth 

To  heavenly  music,  by  no  mortal  heard. 

He  told  them  of  the  brilliant  thirty  stars 

That  were  revered  and  called  "  consulting  gods," 

And  how  twelve  stars  that  shimmered  in  the  north, 

And  others,  twelve,  that  burned  within  the  south, 

Compelled  the  destinies  of  live  and  dead 

And  were  revered  as  "  Judges  of  the  World." 

And  as  he  burned  sweet  spices  at  the  shrines, 
He  told  them  that  the  months  were  sacred  all, 
And  bade  them  learn  to  cherish  and  repeat 
Their  names  and  hold  them  holy  in  their  hearts. 
Therefore  the  children  sang  with  treble  tones  : 

"  Hail  to  the  month  of  Nisan,  the  month  of  Anu  and 

Bel! 

And  hail  to  Hea  the  fair,  who  rules  all  the  month  lyyar  ! 
Hail  to  the  month  of  Sivan,  belonging  of  right  to  Sin  ! 


236  BEL-SHA  R-  UZZUR. 

And  hail  to  the  month  Tammuz,  of 

Ninip  the  lawful  month  ! 

Hail  to  the  month  of  Elul,  the 

Month  of  the  Queen  Ishtar  ! 

And  also  to  Tisri,  hail,  the  month  of  Shamos,  the  god  ! 

Hail  to  fair  Marchesvan,  great 

Merodach's  holy  month  ! 

.Hail  to  the  month  of  Kislev,  to 

Nergal  made  sacred  now  ! 

And  hail  to  Tebat,  the  month  of 

Papsukul  famed  and  great  ! 

And  hail  to  Sebat,  the  month  the  chosen  of  amorous 

Vul  ! 
And  hail  to  the  month  of  gods,  the  seven  great  gods 

Adar  ! 
And  hail  to  the  month  Veadar,  the  month  of  the  fathers 

of  gods  !  " 

SCENE  V. 

PART  I. 

Lo,  through  full  twenty  gates  came  charioteers, 
Laden  with  spoil  and  treasure  for  the  king, 
With  horses  belled  and  cinctured  in  rare  silk, 
Escorted  by  fierce  bowmen  mailed  in  iron, 


BEL-SHAR-UZZUR.  237 

With  maces  on  their  backs  and  blinding  shields, 
And  adroit  slingers  to  protect  the  wealth  ; 
For  there  was  onyx,  and  much  amethyst 
From  out  the  land  of  Belad,  and  they  brought 
Chalcedony  and  alabaster,  too, 
With  ebony  and  jasper  from  Tabit, 
And  lapis-lazuli  from  Kedin  town, 
Likewise  from  Karid  and  from  walled  Anat, 
Gifts  for  the  king,  who,  lavish  with  his  gold, 
Would  place  them  in  his  lapidaries'  palms 
And  bid  them  rub  and  polish  till  the  stones 
Were  worthy  of  the  king,  Bel-shar-uzziir. 


PART  II. 

Now  in  the  city  was  a  gentle  maid, 

Alca  by  name,  who  whiled  away  the  hours 
Petting  her  birds  and  weaving  wreathes  of  flowers 

Within  her  father's  dwelling,  in  the  shade. 

He  was  a  warrior  stationed  on  the  walls, 

And  gave  his  daughter  his  large  share  of  spoil, 
So  that  her  dainty  fingers  might  not  toil, 

So  that  she  might  spill  perfume  in  her  halls. 


238  BEL-  SHA  £-  UZZUR. 

And  she  was  pure,  and  no  intrepid  youth 
Had  lured  her  fancy  by  a  glittering  gem  ; 

Nor  had  a  beard  been  pressed  unto  her  hem, 
Nor  had  she  lingered  in  a  merchant's  booth. 

And  she  was  beautiful,  with  ebon  hair 
Scented  and  braided  with  new  fillets,  and 
She  wore  a  jasper  signet  on  her  hand, 
And  roses  in  her  bosom  round  and  fair. 

Yet  she  was  wise  and  knew  that  Beltis  claimed 
Her  beauteous  body  in  the  temple's  shrine, 
For  one  sweet  night  of  ecstasy  divine  ; 

Yea,  this  she  knew,  and  yet  was  unashamed. 

And  all  her  heart  was  bursting  with  young  pride, 
For  she,  the  humble  maiden,  white  and  pure, 
Had  once  beheld  the  king,  Bel-shar-uzzur, 

Pass  in  his  chariot  on  the  bastions  wide. 

And  he  had  gazed  upon  her  as  he  passed, 

Ay,  the  great  king  !  and  this  sweet  knowledge  sent 
A  sense  of  joy  and  much  bewilderment 

Through  her  warm  flesh  and  made  her  heart  beat  fast. 


BEL-SHAR-UZZUR.  239 

The  time  was  nigh  when  she  would  have  to  pass 

Within  the  temple  to  await  the  gold 

Of  any  passing  stranger,  and  enfold 
His  body  with  her  jeweled  arms,  alas  ! 

And  this  annoyed  her  soul,  because  her  love 
Was  pledged  to  Ammarac,  a  warrior  tall, 
Who  was  her  pride,  her  passion  and  her  all, 

Strong  as  a  god  and  humble  as  a  dove. 

And  through  the  sultry  day,  when  he  would  come 

To  sit  and  sing  beside  her  in  the  shade, 

She  longed  to  be  another  than  a  maid, 
And  passions  woke  and  triumphed  that  were  dumb. 

And,  lo  !  he  spake  to  her,  and  softly  said  : 
"  When  to  the  temple  thou  art  taken  in  state, 
Fear  naught,  sweet  Alca,  do  not  hesitate  ; 

I  will  be  there  ;  harbor  no  evil  dread. 

"  Thy  ransom-coin  will  be  of  graven  gold, 
And  I  will  press  it  in  thy  furtive  palm, 
Then  I  can  fearless  taste  thy  kisses'  balm, 

And  all  the  whiteness  of  thy  body  hold  ! 


240  BEL-  SHA  R-  UZZ  UR. 

"That  brutal  Tammac,  who  pursues  thee  now 
With  gifts  of  ointment  and  great  lustful  sighs, 
With  braided  beard  and  hot  and  swinish  eyes, 

Will  never  touch  the  fillets  of  thy  brow. 

"Thou  shalt  be  mine,  and  I  will  love  thee  much, 
And  prove  my  love  in  manly  loving  ways. 
Mine  ears  shall  reap  the  harvest  of  thy  praise, 

When  thou  dost  pant  to  Vul  beneath  my  touch  !  " 

And  Alca  smiled  and  kissed  his  bearded  face, 
Saying  :  "  'Tis  well !  Thy  whim  I  will  obey, 
And  I  shall  wait  thy  coming  on  that  day, 

When  the  vast  temple  shelters  my  disgrace  !  " 

Then  she  arose,  and  placing  milk  and  fruit 
With  spicy  gums  before  him,  she  reclined 
Upon  her  silks,  and  to  becalm  his  mind 

She  summoned  forth  the  spirit  of  her  lute. 

And  he  was  tame,  and  lingered  at  her  feet, 
Kissing  her  limbs  and  toying  with  her  hair  ; 
For  there  was  peace  and  much  contentment  there, 

And  all  his  dreams  were  fruitful  and  complete. 


BEL-SHAR-UZZUR.  241 

The  sacred  daylight  broke,  and  Alca,  draped 

In  lovely  garments  and  her  choicest  gems, 

Entered  the  temple  of  Mylitta,  where 

She  took  her  place  amid  a  thousand  maids, 

There  to  await  the  coming  of  the  coin. 

And  in  the  scented  gloom  she  could  discern, 

Vaguely  at  first,  and  lucidly  at  last, 

A  cluster  of  women  who  had  had  no  coin, 

Ay,  women  who  had  lingered  there  for  years, 

Hopelessly  captives  till  the  silver  came ! 

And  some  were  young,  but  marked  by  moles  or  scars, 

And  some  were  old  and  spake  with  wrinkled  cheeks, 

And  Alca  pitied  them  and  cried  :  "  O  Bel ! 

I  pray  to  thee  that  I  may  ne'er  be  thus  !  " 

While,  as  she  prayed,  the  women  who  were  spurned 

Circled  the  altar,  and  in  desolate  tones 

Sang  to  the  god  who  had  not  heard  their  prayers  : 


"  Oh  !  will  no  great  warrior  stern 

To  allure  us  hence  return  ? 
Must  we  now  remain  forever  in  the  temple's  halls  prodigious  ? 

We  have  faces  white  and  fair, 

With  keen  eyes  and  lustrous  hair, 
And  with  fervor  we  have  yielded  to  all  rites  and  rules  religious, 

at) 


242  BE  L-  SHA  R-  UZZUR, 

*'  Yet  in  vain  we  stretch  our  hand, 

And  with  faltering  voice  demand 
The  bright  salvatory  silver  that  will  save  us  from  this  prison  ! 

Yet  full  many  a  gentle  maid, 

In  enticing  silks  arrayed, 
From  her  corner  near  the  altar  for  long  years  has  not  arisen  ! 

"  Oh  Mylitta  !  in  the  might 

Of  thy  all-absorbing  light, 
See  us  bow  before  thine  altars,  slaves  of  love,  and  law,  and  duty  ! 

Let  us  gaze  but  once  again 

On  the  lovely  leafy  plain, 
Take  us  hence  ere  Time  rapacious  hurls  its  javelin  at  our  beauty! 

"  We  are  sacred  as  the  sun, 

And  our  task  we  dare  not  shun, 
Yet  in  vain  we  tempt  the  comers  with  alert,  voluptuous  glances! 

Must  we  linger  here  and  die, 

As  the  solemn  years  go  by, 

And  lose  pleasure,  hope  and  beauty,  and  the  joy  of  wines  and 
dances  ? 

"  Even  thy  priests,  who  boil  and  burn 
With  all  lechery,  will  turn 


BEL-SHAR-UZZUR.  243 

From  our  naked  bosoms  tempting,  knowing  death  is  swift  and 
certain, 

If  they  fall  from  thy  high  grace 
.By  one  unallowed  embrace 
On  our  lips  or  on  our  bodies  near  the  sacred  altar's  curtain. 

"  Oh  great  queen  of  night,  Ashtar  ! 
That  in  heaven  dost  shine  afar, 

We  are  dying  for  deliverance  and  the  frenzy  of  caresses  ! 
Deign  to  send  our  spirit  gleams 
Of  a  hope  to  light  our  dreams, 

And  thy  name  will  be  unto  us  as  a  balm  that  soothes  and 
blesses  !  " 


But  no  bright  coin  was  dropped  upon  their  laps, 
And  no  one  even  paused  to  market  them. 

Vast  crowds  assembled  at  the  temple's  gates, 
Awaiting  entrance  when  the  doors  unbarred 
Should  give  to  all  an  enviable  choice 
Of  supple  flesh  and  animated  eyes  ; 
And  Ammarac  was  present,  with  a  bit 
Of  flashing  gold  held  firmly  in  his  hand, 


344  BEL-  SHA  R-  UZZ  UR. 

Destined  for  Alca,  and  his  bosom  leaped 
When  thoughts  of  love  went  soaring  through  his  heart, 
Thoughts  of  her  nudity  and  drooping  eyes, 
Thoughts  of  the  rich  allurement  of  her  breasts. 

Impatient,  ardent,  he  stood  waiting  there, 
While  the  grave  priests,  heedless  of  his  desire, 
Exasperating,  in  their  scented  cloaks, 
Sang  unto  Bel,  as  if  the  massive  doors 
Were  destined  never  to  be  flung  apart  : 


BEL-SHAR-UZZUR.  245 


CHORUS  OF  PRIESTS. 

Before  thee,  Bel,  we  bow  ! 
The  glory  of  thy  brow 

Doth  light  us. 
Thou  art  of  gods  supreme, 
And  thou  in  ways  extreme 

Canst  smite  us  ! 

To  dye  thine  altars  red 
For  thee  our  foes  have  bled 

And  perished ! 
Thy  power  that  never  failed 
Is  through  our  city  hailed 

And  cherished  ! 

Oh,  Lord  of  great  Accad  ! 
We  strive  to  make  thee  glad 

With  treasure, 
And  by  thy  power  the  sky, 
The  sun  and  moon  on  high 

We  measure. 


246  BEL-  SHA  R-  UZZ  UR. 

Within  our  naked  breasts 
Our  ardor  never  rests  ; 

We  love  thee; 
And  know  that  by  the  sun 
Of  gods  there  can  be  none 

Above  thee  ! 

We  are  the  seventy  priests 
Who  guard  thy  rites  and  feasts, 

Who  hail  thee  ! 
We  deal  thy  lightning  blows 
On  one  and  all,  when  foes 

Assail  thee  ! 

We  bend  before  thee,  Bel, 
Thou  only  canst  dispel 

Our  sorrow  ! 
And  on  our  weary  knees 
Wisdom  from  thy  decrees 

We  borrow  ! 

Thou  art  of  gods  supreme, 
Thy  hand  in  ways  extreme 
Can  smite  us  ! 


BEL-  SHA  R-  UZZUR.  247 

Hail !  for  we  humbly  bow  ; 
The  glory  of  thy  brow 
Doth  light  us  ! 


Then,  as  they  ceased,  the  doors  were  opened  wide, 

But,  ere  tall  Ammarac  with  brawny  arms 

Could  reach  his  chosen  one,  although  he  clove 

The  brows  of  twenty  eaten  up  by  lust, 

Who  yearned  to  pick  the  fairest  in  the  place, 

He  was  forestalled  by  Tammac,  who  had  dropped 

A  bit  of  gold  in  wondering  Alca's  lap, 

Saying  :  "  Mylitta  prosper  thee,  sweet  maid  !  " 

And  every  one  had  seen  the  deed  performed, 

And  forty  priests  protected  Tammac  there, 

Crying  :  "  It  is  the  law  I     The  maid  is  his  ! 

The  man  was  hiding  in  the  temple,  true, 

The  deed  is  fraud,  but  sacred  must  remain  j 

The  woman  for  the  rite  to  him  belongs." 

They  spake,  yet  as  they  spake  the  priests  knew  not 

That  grave  Kalastan,  the  superior  priest, 

Had  taken  bribes  of  ninety  golden  bricks 

To  let  hot  Tammac  enter  unperceived, 

And  Ammarac  was  hooted  from  the  place. 


BEL-  SHA  R-  UZZ  UR. 

Then,  like  a  bustard  darting  on  a  dove, 

Tammac  seized  Alca  in  his  virile  arms, 

And  he  was  fain  to  drag  her  to  a  vault, 

When,  lo!  shrill  trumpets  sounded,  and  a  voice 

Rang  through  the  temple  :  "Lo  !  our  beauteous  king, 

The  heavenly  king,  Bel-shar-uzzur,  is  here  !  " 

And  it  was  true,  because  the  king  appeared, 

Asking  the  reasons  of  such  tumult  there. 

Then  Alca  tore  herself  from  Tammac's  hold, 

And  kneeling  to  the  king  cried  out :  "Oh  King  ! 

Thou  once  didst  gaze  upon  me  in  the  street, 

And  that  one  glance  is  treasured  in  my  loins  ! 

Save  me  !     This  thing  is  fraudulent  and  false  ! 

This  man  was  couchant  in  the  temple  ere 

The  doors  were  opened  !     Save  me,  gentle  king  ! 

For  I  would  rather  soil  my  bed  with  toads 

Than  yield  my  body  to  his  scented  touch  !  " 

And  the  king  gazed  upon  her  and  said  naught, 

Watching  the  undulations  of  her  breast, 

Gazed  till  the  blushes  scarleted  her  face, 

Then,  waving  back  the  hordes  of  angry  priests, 

He  bade  four  eunuchs  bear  the  girl  away, 

And  take  her  to  his  palace,  there  to  live 

Until  the  matter  had  been  legalized. 


BEL-  SHA  R-  UZZ UK.  249 

And  all  the  people  shouted  with  delight, 
O'erjoyed  to  see  the  grave  intolerant  priests 
Bearded  at  last  by  the  all-holy  king  ! 

Bel-shar-uzzur,  within  his  sacred  room, 

Held  Alca  dazzled  by  his  regal  glance  ; 

Speechless  she  saw  the  scintillating  flame 

Of  furious  passion  in  his  god-blest  eyes  ! 

Yet  he,  the  king,  the  glory  of  the  earth, 

Dared  not  to  press  her  beauty  to  his  lips. 

He,  lord  of  myriads,  at  that  very  hour 

Was  powerless  to  break  the  laws  of  gods, 

And  for  an  empire  he  could  kiss  her  not, 

And  this  he  knew,  and  cried  aloud  :  "  Poor  king  ! 

Even  I  am  limited,  the  son  of  gods  !  " 

And,  as  he  mused,  there  came  a  noise  of  brass 

Stricken  by  brass  unto  his  idle  ear, 

And  from  the  window  he  could  see  below 

A  thousand  priests,  who  by  the  sign  of  Bel 

Had  paralyzed  the  watchman  of  the  courts, 

And  called  upon  the  monarch  to  appear, 

For  the  priests'  vengeance  is  a  fearful  thing. 

And  he  came  forth,  knowing  the  rigid  laws, 

And  cried  :  "Ye  driveling  fools  and  dogs,  be  still  ! 


250  BEL-SHAR-UZZUR. 

Bel  doth  protect  you,  and  I  know  his  wish  ! 

I,  the  great  king,  I,  the  beloved  of  Bel, 

Will  bow  before  his  will,  but  not  at  yours  ! 

This  girl  shall  go  unto  her  righteous  lord, 

Young  Tammac,  for  an  hour.     The  king  has  said  ! 

So  get  ye  hence  !     Within  a  hurried  hour 

She,  guarded  by  my  spears,  shall  go  to  you  ! " 

And,  turning  to  the  trembling  maid,  he  cried  : 

"  Sweet  maiden,  for  the  gods  thou  must  obey, 

And  be  the  toy  of  Tammac  for  an  hour  ; 

But  I  shall  wipe  thy  stain  away  in  blood  !  " 

And,  summoning  a  host  of  archers  near, 

He  bade  them  march  as  escort  to  the  maid, 

And  in  his  chariot  of  war  he  rode 

Unto  the  temple. 

And  it  came  to  pass 
That  Alca,  led  into  a  rosy  bower 
By  priests  commissioned  for  this  very  task, 
Was  given  up  to  Tammac,  while  in  bands 
The  monarch's  archers  guarded  the  retreat. 
Cautioned  to  stand  all  deaf  to  Alca's  cries. 
Tammac,  made  beautiful  by  his  desire, 
Thanking  the  gods  and  blessing  justice  there, 
Reveled  with  Alca's  body,  and  made  sweet 


BEL-SHAR-UZZUR.  251 

The  hour  allotted  to  him,  though  she  spurned 

In  vain  his  hot  caresses,  and  was  still 

Obedient  to  the  law,  and  nothing  more. 

And  then  Bel-shar-uzzur  appeared  and  spake 

To  Ellac,  Chief  of  Archers,  who  went  forth 

And  led  the  panting  Alca  to  the  king  ; 

And  as  he  frowned  and  bade  her  no  more  weep, 

Now  that  the  gods  were  satisfied,  a  shriek 

Was  heard  within  the  soiled  bower,  and  lo  ! 

An  archer  drew  the  curtain  folds  aside 

And,  with  a  shout  exultant  to  the  king, 

Threw  Tammac's  severed  head  at  Alca's  feet, 

Such  being  the  will  of  King  Bel-shar-uzzur. 

And  Alca,  free  to  be  his  kingly  prey, 

Was  borne  in  triumph  to  his  perfumed  couch, 

And  blushed  not  when  he  crushed  her  to  his  arms, 

For  all  her  soul  went  forth  in  love  for  him. 


Now  Ammarac  had  heard  from  laughing  crowds 
The  story  of  the  trustless  one  he  loved, 
And  knew  that  at  that  very  hour  she  lay 
Throbbing  upon  the  bosom  of  the  king, 
And  sudden  rage  stormed  at  his  open  heart, 
For  he  desired  her  with  a  soldier's  love, 


252  BEL-  SHA  R-  UZZUR. 

A  love  that  had  been  purely  held  for  her, 
A  love  untainted  by  a  harlot's  touch. 
And  in  his  grief  he  knew  not  what  to  do. 
For  many  days  he  dwelt  in  unconcern, 
Haunted  by  visions  of  the  king's  delight, 
Haunted  by  the  white  roundness  of  her  limbs, 
And,  reckless,  he  arose  one  starry  night 
To  hurl  himself  upon  his  rusting  lance, 
And,  for  this  end,  he  sought  the  shrine  of  Bel, 
Begging  forgiveness  for  his  coming  sin, 
And  then  far  from  the  city's  ways  he  went 
To  choose  a  death-spot  in  the  outer  ditch, 
While,  far  above,  upon  the  walls,  he  heard 
His  soldier-comrades  singing  in  the  night: 


BEL.  SHA  R.  UZZUR.  253 


CHORUS   OF   SOLDIERS. 

Forth  from  our  strongholds  we  come  with  a  rush  and  a  turbu- 
lence wonderful, 

Smiting  the  foe  unto  death,  the  foe  ever  boasting  and  blun- 
derful, 

Ay  !  like  a  storm  sweeping  down,  impetuous,  terrific  and  thun- 
derful ! 

See  !  the  foe  fly  in  their  fear  when  we  charge  with  heroic 
audacity  ! 

See  them  bewildered  and  crushed  by  our  valor  and  mad  per- 
tinacity ! 

How  can  they  stand  against  us,  gaunt  lions  and  bears  of 
rapacity  ? 

Well  may  they  pray  to  the  gods  to  soften    our    changeless 

severity  ! 
Well    may   they    weep    and   bemoan    their   preposterous   and 

wretched  temerity  ! 
Well  may  they  pray  to  the  gods  to  defend  them  from  Nebo's 

asperity  ! 


254  BEL-SHAR-UZZUR. 

Well  may  they   tremble    and    fly,    the   jest    and   the   jeer   of 

humanity  ! 
Well  may  they  curse  in  the  dark  on  their  monarch's  ignoble 

insanity  ! 
Under  our  glittering  spears  he  will  writhe   in  his  feminine 

vanity. 


Then  Ammarac  plucked  his  sick  courage  up, 

And  placed  the  deadly  javelin  to  his  heart, 

And  would  have  died  thinking  of  Alca's  arms 

Entwined  around  the  body  of  his  king, 

Had  not  a  hand,  stretched  forward  from  the  dark, 

Stayed  his  first  strain,  and  lo  !  before  him  stood 

A  bearded  savior,  a  mysterious  man, 

Grave  and  majestic,  whom  he  oft  had  seen, 

A  wrinkled  Jew,  a  man  of  holy  looks, 

Known  in  the  town  as  Daniel,  and  a  seer. 

And  Daniel  spoke  and  said  :  "  My  worthy  son, 

Take  not  the  gift  of  life  God  gave  to  thee, 

But  live,  and  suffer  if  thou  must,  but  live  ! 

For  it  is  sin  to  take  thy  life,  indeed. 

I  know  thy  grief,  the  outrage  and  the  wiles 

Of  sinful  priests,  who  stripped  thee  of  thy  right. 

I  know  the  woman  thou  didst  idly  woo, 


BEL-SHAR-  UZZUR.  255 

Yea,  knew  her  when  a  tender  girl,  and  saw 
Within  her  childish  eyes  the  glance  of  sin, 
And  prophesied  that  she  would  be  a  toy 
For  half  the  town,  and  it  shall  come  to  pass  ; 
For,  weary  of  the  king,  Bel-shar-uzzur, 
She  will  depart  ere  long  with  many  gifts, 
And  keep  a  dwelling  for  the  wealthy  youth, 
And  live  and  die  in  perfumes  and  in  lust. 
Youth  !  I  have  spoken  to  thee  ;  mark  my  words, 
And,  if  thy  wounds  are  far  from  being  healed, 
Come  unto  my  abode  of  purest  peace, 
Come  to  the  quarter  of  the  hated  Jews, 
Whose  hour  of  triumph  cometh,  and  relate 
Once  more  with  many  words  thy  grievances  !  " 
Then  through  dark  ways  the  Prophet  Daniel  led 
The  stricken  warrior  toward  the  Jewish  huts, 
To  listen  to  his  story  till  the  dawn, 
And  at  its  end  he  cried  :     "  Maltreated  friend, 
To-morrow  I  will  go  unto  the  king  !  " 

Then  from  the  gloom  and  horror  of  the  spot 
Arose  the  bitter  moan  of  Hebrew  slaves  : 


256  BEL-SHAR-  UZZUR. 

"  Oh  Jehovah ! 
Hear  our  prayers. 
From  the  snares 
That  surround  us 
And  dumfound  us, 
Where  we  hover, 
Under  and  over, 
Through  the  city, 
Give  thy  pity  ! 
Deign  to  guard  us, 
And  discard  us 
From  thee  never, 
But  forever 
Give  salvation 
To  thy  nation  ! 


"  From  the  awful, 
Foul,  unlawful 
God  Bel,  painted, 
Oh,  great  sainted, 
Proud  Jehovah  ! 
Shield  and  bless  us, 
Nor  distress  us  ! 


BEL-SHA  R-  VZZUR.  257 


Isolated, 
Beaten,  hated, 
Generated 
Here  in  error, 
We  in  terror 
Pass  our  lives  ! 
We  are  goaded 
Like  beasts  loaded, 
And  our  wives, 
Sons  and  daughters 
By  the  waters 
Of  the  city 
Work  and  labor 
For  their  neighbor, 
Without  pity  ! 
Isolated, 
Beaten,  hated, 
In  our  sorrow 
We  can  borrow 
Consolation 
From  no  human, 
Man  or  woman, 
Of  this  nation  ! 
Men  ill  treat  us, 
Scorn  and  beat  us  ! 

(17) 


258  BEL-SHAR-UZZUR. 

Babylon's  graves 
Are  o'ercrowded  ! 
We  are  shrouded 
In  the  waves 
Of  the  river  ! 
Oh  !  deliver 
Now  thy  sons  ! 
Guard  thy  naked 
And  unslaked 
Wretched  ones 
From  the  rigid 
Force  and  frigid 
Clutch  of  Bel, 
Fiend  from  hell  ! 
Deign  to  guard  us  ! 
Oh  !  discard  us 
From  thee  never, 
But  forever 
Bring  salvation 
To  thy  nation  !  " 


BEL-SHAR-UZZUR.  259 

PART    III. 

The  Medes  and  Persians  thundered  at  the  gates 
Impregnable  and  flawless  as  the  clouds. 
And  Babylon  defied  them,  for  the  town 
Was  sacred  as  her  temples  and  her  gods. 
And  Cyrus,  the  invader,  knew  this  thing, 
But  still  would  linger  prancing  near  the  walls, 
Watching  his  soldiers  die  by  snakes  and  pest, 
While  Babylon  grew  merry,  knowing  it. 

Bel-shar-uzzur,  the  monarch,  in  his  halls 

Of  plated  pillars  and  enameled  brick, 

Gave  a  great  feast  unto  a  thousand  lords, 

And  sat,  a  god  of  glory,  on  his  throne 

Of  carved  wood  draped  in  embroidered  cloth, 

Tasseled,  and  fringed,  and  glittering  with  gold. 

He  held  two  arrows  in  his  perfumed  hand, 

For  he  was  king,  and  eunuchs  by  his  side 

Fanned  him  and  held  the  scented  napkins  near, 

While  Alca  nestled  at  his  jeweled  feet, 

And  her  great  eyes  were  beautiful  with  flame. 

The  king  was  warm  with  wine,  and  he  arose, 
Praising  the  gods  of  silver  and  of  gold, 


260  BEL-  SHA  R-  UZZ  UR. 

Ay  !  and  his  gods  of  brass,  and  wood,  and  stone, 
And  cried  :  "  Is  this  not  Babylon  the  great, 
The  glory  of  the  East,  the  queen  of  towns  ?  " 
And  purpled  by  soft  wines  he  proudly  sang  : 

"  I  have  my  thousands  slain  ! 
The  sun  on  my  domain 

Sets  never ! 

My  glory  and  my  fame, 
The  terror  of  my  name, 
Consuming  like  a  flame, 

Will  last  forever ! 

"  For  multitudes  of  days 
I  listen  to  the  praise 

Incessant 

That  rises  from  my  land 
To  the  Egyptian  sand  ; 
The  terror  of  my  hand 

Is  ever  present ! 

"  To  keep  me  gemmed  and  oiled, 
My  myriads  have  toiled 
And  striven, 


BEL.  SHA  R-  UZZ  UR.  261 

And  my  victorious  star, 
As  pure  as  pure  Ishtar, 
All  enemies  afar 
Has  driven  ! 

"  This  holy  night  we  use 
The  vessels  by  the  Jews 

Once  cherished  ! 
The  king,  now  dead,  my  sire, 
Seized  them  for  his  desire  ; 
Jerusalem  in  fire 

And  famine  perished  ! 

"Before  me  it  is  death 
To  speak  above  a  breath. 

My  glory 

Is  as  god  Adar's  vast  ! 
And  when  my  hours  have  passed, 
Immortal  it  will  last 

On  bricks,  in  story  ! 

"  My  beauty  is  Ishtar's  ; 
In  me  the  seven  stars 
Are  blended, 


262  BEL-SHAR-UZZUR. 

And  in  my  perfect  face 
Divinity  I  trace. 
From  mighty  Nimrod's  race 
I  am  descended  ! 

"  From  Resen  and  Ashur, 
From  Opis  and  Nipur, 

My  praises, 

Over  vast  mountains  blown, 
Assault  my  august  throne  ; 
The  fear  I  cause  alone 

The  world  amazes  ! 

"  My  troops  allegiance  swear 
With  the  o'erwhelming  blare 

Of  trumpets, 

While  I,  in  bliss  complete, 
Sing,  with  my  perfumed  feet 
Upon  the  bellies  sweet 

Of  rosy  strumpets ! 

"  I  bid  a  thousand  slaves 
To  dig  their  own  foul  graves 
Assemble. 


BEL-  SHA  R-  UZZUR.  263 

All  nations  hail  my  worth, 
And  at  my  nod  all  earth 
Since  my  celestial  birth 

Doth  deer-tike  tremble  ! 

"  I  have  my  thousands  slain  ! 
The  sun  on  my  domain 

Sets  never  ! 

My  glory  and  my  fame, 
The  terror  of  my  name, 
Consuming  like  a  flame, 

Will  last  forever  !  " 


And  lo  !  the  monarch  turned  unto  his  guests 
And  bade  his  household  laugh,  and  thereby  brake 
The  grave  tradition,  which  forbade  a  man 
To  laugh  within  the  presence  of  the  king. 

Therefore  the  dignitaries  of  the  realm, 
Assembled  in  the  cedar  banquet  hall, 
Arose  and  sang  to  his  delighted  ear  : 


264  BEL-SHAR-UZZUR. 


CHORUS. 

Of  all  terrestrial  things, 
Of  all  thrice-holy  kings, 

Thou  art  the  fairest ! 
Of  all  men  seen  on  earth, 
Since  sun  and  stars  had  birth, 

Thou  art  the  rarest  ! 

Among  the  many  lords 

Who  rule  the  land  with  swords, 

Alone  thou  standest ! 
For,  of  all  blood  and  bone 
That  ever  graced  a  throne, 

Thou  art  the  grandest ! 

The  damp  earth,  dark  and  cold, 
Doth  rigidly  enfold 

All  that  thou  hatest ! 
And  even  the  gods  on  high 
In  jealous  anger  cry, 

Thou  art  the  greatest ! 


BEL-SHA  R-  UZZUR.  265 

King  with  the  stainless  brow  ! 
We  to  acclaim  thee  now 

Will  be  the  loudest, 
For  of  all  human  kind 
The  gods  on  earth  can  find, 

Thou  art  the  proudest ! 


And  then  the  astrologers  of  the  mighty  town, 
The  grave  Chaldeans,  wizards  among  men, 
Full  of  all  cunning  and  for  ages  wise, 
Mathematicians  and  philosophers, 
Conversant  with  the  mysteries  of  herbs, 
Great  sorcerers,  translators  of  the  stars, 
Approached  the  peerless  king  and  sang  to  him  : 


266  BEL-SHAR-UZZUR. 


CHORUS  OF  ASTROLOGERS. 

Our  great  wisdom  time  defies, 
For  we  read  the  starry  skies 

Like  a  scroll, 

And  we  know  the  secrets  vast 
Of  the  future,  of  the  past, 

And  the  soul ! 

King  Bel-shar-uzzur  consults 
Our  wide  knowledge,  and  exults 

When  we  read, 
For  we  prophesied  his  reign 
Would  know  famine  not,  nor  pain, 

And  no  need. 

We  are  old  and  very  wise ; 
There  is  water  in  our  eyes 

When  we  work  ; 
Bat  the  gods,  whom  all  adore, 
When  we  yield  our  precious  store, 

In  us  lurk. 


BEL-SHA  R-  UZZUR.  267 

We  are  not  like  bearded  priests, 
Who  are  warm  with  lust  like  beasts  ; 

We  are  pure ! 

In  the  temple's  vaults  we  dwell, 
Of  the  love  of  mighty  Bel 

We  are  sure. 

We  have  cut  on  deathless  stone 
All  the  wonders  we  have  known 

In  our  lives, 

And  have  praised  our  peerless  king 
When  he  deigns  to  drink  and  sing 

With  his  wives  ! 

Bearded  Persians  dot  the  plain, 
But  they  strive  and  strive  in  vain 

For  our  fall  ; 

Their  vile  bodies  Nergal  saves 
To  make  green  and  fat  our  graves 

When  we  call ! 

For  we  read  the  starry  skies, 
Without  blunder  or  surprise, 
Like  a  scroll, 


268  BEL-  SHA  R-  UZZUR. 

And  we  know  the  secrets  vast 
Of  the  future,  of  the  past, 
And  the  soul ! 

Then  suddenly,  from  nothing,  came  a  HAND 
And  wrote  strange  words  of  fire  upon  the  wall ! 

"  The  joints  of  the  king's  loins  were  loosed  with  fright," 

And  tottering  on  his  throne  he  cried  aloud  : 

"  Hark  !  whosoever  shall  this  writing  read, 

And  show  the  interpretation  unto  me, 

He  shall  be  clothed  with  scarlet,  and  a  chain 

Of  gold  shall  be  upon  his  neck,  and  he 

Shall  be  third  ruler  of  this  chosen  realm  !  " 

And  as  he  spake,  the  palsied  courtiers  cried 
In  moaning  tones  that  reached  the  very  stars  : 

"Strike  for  us,  Bin!  in  thy  majesty  invulnerable  ! 

Slay  the  proud  god  who  in  lines  of  flame  sends  challenge  to 

thee! 

Breathe  on  the  words  and  obliterate  them  wonderfully  ! 
Crush  into  naught  the  insulting,  unknown  spoliator  ! 
See  !  our  sweet  king  faints  in  terror  and  is  stricken  by  the 
Sight !    Oh,  ye  gods  !  will  ye  leave  him  thus  to  perish  in  the 


BEL-SHA  R-  UZZUR.  269 

Pangs  of  despair,  when  your  voices,  blended  gloriously, 
Now  can  avert  this  calamity  and  guard  us  from  it  ? 
Oh,  perfect  El  !  in  thy  matchless  mercy  gaze  upon  us ! 
Call  in  thy  wrath  for  thine  angel-host,  and  mercilessly 
Smite  with  thy  dart  this  assaulting  god  that  terrifies  us  ! 
Hurl  to  the  sea,  where  he  spawned  in  gloom,  his  insolences! 
Oh,  god  of  light !  come  in  storms  and  fire  majestically  ! 
Pass,  with  fierce  winds  all  the  fiery  lines  obliterating  ! " 

And  Daniel  came  and  stood  before  the  king 
To  read  the  words  of  fire,  and  thus  he  spake  : 


"  Now  that  thy  grave  astrologers  make  blunder, 
Thou  callst  me,  king,  to  interpret  here  this  wonder, 
These  lines  of  fire  that  came  with  storm  and  thunder. 


"  It  is  the  writing  of  the  Lord  Eternal, 
Jehovah  !  whom  I  praise  in  prayer  diurnal, 
The  Master  of  thy  impious  gods  infernal ! 


"  It  is  a  great,  imperishable  warning, 

It  is  the  punishment  for  all  thy  scorning, 

It  is,  that  thou  shalt  die  before  the  morning  ! 


270  BEL-  SHA  R-  UZZ  UR. 

"  Thy  cheeks  grow  white,  Bel-shar-uzzur  !  I  tell  thee 
That  my  high  God,  ere  dawn  breaks,  will  compel  thee 
To  humbly  bow  before  Him  and  then  fell  thee  ! 

"  Thy  winged  deities  lie  maimed  and  wingless  ; 
Thy  soldiers'  arrows  hurled  at  God  are  stingless  ; 
This  haughty  town  to-morrow  will  be  kingless  ! 

"  Thy  god  of  light,  thy  circle  god,  thy  Shamas, 

With  all  the  hosts  Assyrian,  can  not  tame  us  ; 

We  Jews  belong  to  God  !     Thou  canst  not  claim  us  ! 

"  Call  on  thy  Vul,  thy  Abitur  in  panic  ! 

Invoke  Kalassan's  secrets  talismanic  ! 

They  can  not  now  avert  God's  wrath  volcanic  ! 

"  Death  comes  upon  thee,  obstinate,  rapacious  ! 
Thine  empire  falls  by  rites  and  deeds  salacious ; 
The  vaults  of  hell  await  thee,  dark  and  spacious  ! 

"  Weighed  in  the  balance,  thou  art  wanting  greatly  ; 
Thy  crimes  atrocious  have  grown  fouler. lately  ; 
Yea  !  in  this  very  palace  grand  and  stately 


BEL-  SHA  R-  UZZ  UR.  271 

"  Of  Israel's  daughters  thou  hast  caged  the  fairest  ; 
Thy  couch  revolting  with  stained  souls  thou  sharest ; 
Upon  thy  brow  the  scorn  of  men  thou  bearest  ! 

"  Bel-shar-uzzur  !  See  in  that  fire  a  token  : 
To-morrow  thy  proud  empire  shall  be  broken  ! 
Bel-shar-uzzur,  oh  monarch !  I  have  spoken  !  " 


And  as  the  dreadful  tidings  found  swift  way 
Through  all  the  marveling  town,  the  affrighted  priests 
Rushed  to  their  altars,  calling  to  the  gods  : 


272  BEL-  SHA  R-  UZZ  UR. 


CHORUS. 

Before  thy  blooming  brow,  oh,  God  of  Terror  ! 
We  are  but  stinking  animals  in  error, 

Yea  !  dung  with  life,  ridiculous  and  frightful  ! 

» 

Thou  must  revile  us  when  we  bow  before  thee, 
For  we  are  most  audacious  to  adore  thee, 
For  thou  art  perfect,  beautiful,  delightful  \ 

Yea  !  we  are  toads  that  hop  about  thy  altar, 
But  in  our  slimy  heart  there  never  falter 
The  deathless  sources  of  our  adoration. 

Our  limbs,  our  lives,  our  souls  are  thine  forever, 

Our  lips  to  worship  other  gods  move  never  ; 

For  thee  we  bend  our  beards  in  deep  prostration  ! 

For  thee  we  seize  the  rosy,  trembling  maiden 
And  lay  her  panting  body,  jewel  laden, 
Upon  the  silken  couch,  and  hum  above  her 


BEL-SHAR-UZZUR.  273 

The  Phallic  songs  to  fill  her  with  elation, 
And  from  the  highest  priests  of  highest  station, 
We  choose  for  her  a  tall  and  perfumed  lover. 

Ay,  while  the  sacred  rites  proceed,  we  fan  her 
Abundant  breast  in  the  all-holy  manner, 
And  watch  her  beauty  blushing  into  scarlet. 

While  to  attend  her  in  her  duty  rarest, 
Nude  women,  of  the  city's  women  fairest, 
Moan  in  her  ears  the  moanings  of  the  harlot. 

Sammuramit  the  Queen,  the  great  departed, 
Pallid  with  love,  hath  through  this  temple  darted, 
Slave  of  the  Holy  Law  to  once  surrender 

Her  lustrous  body  to  the  priest's  caresses, 
With  haunches  oiled,  with  roses  in  her  tresses, 
By  Beltis  made  a  love-thing  warm  and  tender. 

Yea,  and  the  king,  Bel-shar-uzzur,  the  splendid, 
Hath  entered  here  when  the  long  day  had  ended, 
To  seek  untainted  flesh  for  his  enjoyment ; 

Q8) 


274  BEL-SHAR-UZZUR. 

And  we  have  seen  him  wreathed  with  many  a  couple 
Of  dancing  maidens,  flushed  with  wine,  and  supple, 
Filling  his  regal  veins  with  gentle  cloyment. 

Oh,  mighty  Vul !  the  Medes  assail  our  city, 
And  much  alarm  us  !  On  thy  slaves  have  pity  ; 
Blow  them  away  with  devastating  thunder, 

And  to  thine  altars  we  will  bring  a  maiden, 
Nude  as  a  star,  with  sweetest  lilies  laden, 
With  rosy  limbs,  a  miracle,  a  wonder  ! 


Far  on  the  plain,  among  the  Medean  tents, 
Stands  Ammarac,  a  traitor  to  his  king, 
Sheltered  by  Cyrus  ;  for  the  foe  has  sworn 
If  that  an  entrance  to  the  town  be  gained, 
Alca,  the  concubine,  shall  find  release, 
And  that  the  king  shall  perish  by  swift  swords, 
Yea,  that  the  king  Bel-shar-uzzur  shall  die, 
And  after  fray  and  tumult,  Ammarac 
Shall  hold  the  woman  as  his  slave  and  toy. 
And  Ammarac  bade  all  the  bearded  Medes 
To  drain  the  river,  turn  aside  the  stream 


BEL-SHAR-UZZUR.  275 

And  fall  upon  the  unsuspecting  town. 
And  this  was  done,  ay  !  it  so  came  to  pass 
That  shielded  thousands  of  the  people's  foes 
Filled  the  great  city's  heart,  before  the  guards, 
Surprised  with  harlots  and  warm,  sweetened  wine, 
Were  conscious  of  alarm,  and  they  were  slain 
By  hundreds  in  the  lanes  and  lighted  courts. 


Shrill  trumpets  blared  and  sounds  of  war  arose, 
And  shrieks  fled  echoing  to  the  towers  of  Bel, 
And  twenty  legions  of  the  Persians,  led 
By  Ammarac  in  bloody  armor,  rushed 
Unto  the  banquet  hall,  where  Alca  stood 
With  warm  arms  round  her  king,  Bel-shar-uzzur, 
Who  strove  to  rise,  his  scepter  in  his  hand  ; 
But  he  was  hampered  by  his  gold  and  silk, 
And,  calling  to  his  gods,  the  monarch  died 
With  Ammarac's  keen  javelin  in  his  heart. 


Then,  while  the  foe  made  carrion  of  the  lords, 
The  warning  words  of  flame  upon  the  wall 
Grew  dim,  and,  when  the  last  was  swiftly  slain, 
It  disappeared,  and  the  Lord's  will  was  done. 


276  BEL-SHAR-UZZUR. 

Then  Alca,  spotted  by  her  lover's  blood, 

Arose  and,  standing  by  the  prostrate  king, 

Cried  unto  Ammarac  :  "  Approach  me  not  ! 

Thou  hast  betrayed  thy  country  and  thy  king, 

And  thou  to  me  art  fouler  than  a  Jew  ! 

My  love,  my  passion,  yea,  my  soul  itself, 

Were  centered  in  my  monarch  thou  hast  slain  ; 

And  never,  by  the  holy  brow  of  Bel  ! 

Shalt  thou  know  kiss  of  mine  ;  and  this  I  swear  ! 

Thy  treachery  has  gained  thee  no  fond  prize, 

For  all  my  marrows  loathe  thy  crimson  hands 

And  their  detested  work  !  Go  forth  and  slay 

The  city's  babes,  thou  traitor !  Thou  art  made 

For  such  a  task  !  Go !  and  be  cursed  by  me  ! 

The  day  shall  never  dawn  upon  my  shame  !  " 

And  as  she  spoke  she  snatched  the  dead  king's  lance, 

And  fell  upon  it  as  a  warrior  would, 

While  the  red  blood  choked  up  her  rosy  mouth, 

While  the  sweet  eyes  grew  still,  and  she  was  dead. 

And  Ammarac  beheld  this  without  tears, 
For  his  poor  mind  had  wandered  from  its  seat, 
And  forth  unto  the  palace  roof  he  groped, 
And  leapt  into  the  darkness  far  below, 
Staining  an  obelisk  with  guilty  blood  ! 


BEL-SHAR-UZZUR.  277 

And  Babylon  was  leveled  to  the  dust, 

And  became  heaps  as  the  great  prophet  said  ; 

Such  was  the  will  of  the  Almighty  God. 


278  BEL-SHAR-VZZUR. 


CHORUS  OF  JEWS. 

Hail  to  Jehovah,  Jehovah  the  highest ! 
Hope  of  thy  people  thou  never  deniest ! 

On  us  and  ours  hath  the  Lord  taken  pity. 
Therefore,  oh  Mighty  One  !  thankful  before  thee, 
We  with  humility  kneel  to  adore  thee, 

Here  in  the  smoke  and  the  flame  of  the  city  ! 

Now  is  the  power  of  great  Babylon  broken  ! 

True  were  the  words  that  the  prophets  have  spoken 

Dead  are  our  masters,  the  lords  sacrilegious, 
Flown  is  their  might  and  departed  their  glory  ; 
Naught  will  remain  of  their  impious  story  ; 

Prone  are  their  gods  and  their  altars  prodigious  ! 

Shackled  and  gyved  after  slaughter  and  pillage, 
All  that  are  spared  of  the  town  will  do  tillage, 

Ay,  in  the  fields  of  the  conquering  nation  ! 
God  hath  deserted  their  dwellings  forever  ; 
God  will  place  trust  in  their  promises  never  ; 

God  will  not  grant  them  a  life  of  salvation  ! 


BEL-SHA  R-  UZZUR.  279 

Great  is  thy  wrath,  oh  Jehovah  !  and  lawful, 
Just  are  thy  punishments,  rapid  and  awful  ! 

Righteous,  deserved  is  this  nation's  affliction, 
For  thou  hast  promised  to  guide  us  and  love  us, 
Now  and  forever  in  glory  above  us, 

Sacred  and  pure  by  thy  sweet  benediction ! 

May  /j-,  1882. 


LOT'S   WIFE. 


LOT'S  WIFE.  283 


LOT'S    WIFE. 


Sodom  in  all  the  splendor  of  her  towers, 
The  monumental  miracle  and  grace 
Of  all  the  haughty  cities  of  the  plain, 
Throbbed  and  exulted  in  her  love  of  life, 
Like  some  great  marble  monster  animate. 
Beyond  the  bristling  circuit  of  the  walls, 
Peopled  by  glittering  sentinels  at  arms, 
Stretched  in  a  flowerful  labyrinth  of  green 
The  leafy  loveliness  of  Siddim's  vale, 
Teeming  with  orchards  of  ancestral  trees, 
Alive  with  grazing  flocks  and  myriad  birds, 
A  revel  and  delight  of  clustering  vines, 
Dotted  with  tranquil  lakes  and  bastioned  hills 
Unto  the  limits  of  the  Arkite  lands. 


Blessed  by  the  Lord,  the  ever  fecund  soil 
Was  prosperous  with  surfeit  of  gold  grain, 
Yielding  a  ready  increase  through  the  years 


284  LOTS  WIFE. 

To  feed  the  grand  and  colossean  town, 

Which  shone  above  it  in  its  lordliness 

Like  some  immense,  bewildering  star  of  steel. 


Within  the  triple  armor  of  her  walls, 
Sodom,  impregnable,  awaited  night, 
Arrayed  in  the  sharp  dazzle  of  her  lamps, 
In  countless  thousands  lighting  the  large  ways  ; 
Waited,  while  sultry  summer's  twilight  came 
To  cool  its  heart  of  marble  with  kind  dews, 
And  breathe  the  perfume  of  awakening  flowers. 


Circled  by  budding  leagues  of  fair  parterres, 
A  hundred  holy  temples  thrust  their  domes 
And  miracles  of  many-pillared  grace 
High  to  the  stars  in  grandeur  insolent, 
Where  bizarre  figures,  fashioned  into  gods, 
Guarded  the  dizzy  steps  and  jasper  stairs 
Leading  to  pyramids  and  tapering  towers, 
While  on  the  ample  palace  roofs,  in  charm 
And  luxury  prodigious,  breathed  and  bloomed 
A  world  of  swaying  gardens  beautiful. 


LOTS  WIFE.  285 

Here  on  the  avenues,  where  roses  seemed 
To  grow  more  plentiful  than  a  forest's  weeds, 
Stood  in  a  maze  of  porphyry  and  gold 
The  peerless  statues  of  the  inviolate  gods, 
And  wondrous  idols  crushed  with  lucent  gems, 
In  pillared  temples  vast,  miraculous. 
Here  brooded  Nergal  in  his  awful  calm, 
Upon  his  puissant  altars,  in  his  hand 
The  scintillant  sword  that  nations  terrified. 
Alone,  supreme,  majestic,  he  looked  down 
Upon  the  attendant  throngs  of  bearded  priests, 
Stern  in  the  splendors  of  his  scarlet  robes, 
While  in  his  outstretched  hand  a  human  head 
Dropped  in  dull  splashes  its  fast  clotting  gore, 
Staining  the  lapis  steps  with  ruddy  red. 


Around  him,  in  the  close  prophetic  gloom, 
Were  awful  shapes  of  animals  and  men, 
Bewildering  images  of  unknown  forms, 
Accouplements  of  monsters  and  of  birds 
With  shapely  maidens  and  exulting  slaves, 
Figures  of  great  divinities  and  powers 
Deigning  to  germinate  with  earthly  flesh, 
And  sensual  minglements  of  flowers  and  brutes, 


286  LOT'S  WIFE. 

Where  loves  amorphous  charmed  the  radiant  gods, 
And  where  audacious  lust  stood  glorified. 

Here  rose  the  reeking  altar-grees  of  Bel, 
And  Yem,  the  king  of  the  exalted  gods, 
And  Bar,  the  hero  of  all  heroes,  stood 
In  lustrous  bronze  beside  all  potent  Nin, 
With  Bita,  king  of  oceans  and  of  fish, 
And  Anu,  holier  than  the  holy  stars. 

Here  reigned  the  great  and  terror-dealing  Beltis, 
The  pure,  impeccable  and  beauteous  goddess, 
And  in  the  perfumed  temple's  gloom  before  her 
Maidens  would  swoon  in  holy  prostitution, 
Adoring  her  fecundity  and  beauty, 
Filling  the  temple  with  their  sighs  of  rapture, 
Low  and  delicious  like  the  doves'  soft  cooing. 
Here  would  they  wait  to  lure  the  idle  passer, 
Tempting  his  glance  by  bare  and  fragrant  bosoms, 
Calling  upon  their  goddess  and  Sheruba, 
Divine  Ishtar,  and  lily-limbed  Anuta, 
To  make  their  flesh  a  love-light  and  a  wonder, 
To  win  the  timorous  stranger  and  the  passer. 
Their  languid  limbs  were  radiant  with  jewels  ; 


LOT'S  WIFE.  287 

Their   thighs    were    smeared   with    warm,   voluptuous 

ointments, 

And  tiars  of  gold  coin  amid  their  tresses 
Shone  in  the  gloom  like  the  fond  eyes  of  angels. 
They  smiled  and  languished  in  their  lustful  dreaming, 
Watching  their  eyes  flash  in  their  copper  mirrors, 
Beautiful,  redolent,  supple-limbed  and  tempting, 
Carelessly  tapping  on  their  noisy  tabrets, 
Screened  by  the  goddess  in  the  temple's  arches, 
Yearning  for  some  sweet  stripling  of  the  city, 
Or  the  grave,  palm-oiled  warriors  of  Gomorrah, 
And,  as  they  toyed  with  gold  and  silver  ouches, 
Prayed  unto  Hea  to  relieve  and  send  them 
Some  dainty  zonah,  some  delicious  zonah, 
Who,  lacking  lovers,  would  with  joy  caress  them, 
Ay,  love  them  sweetlier  for  lacking  lovers. 


Within  Ashurs'  colossal  almug  temple, 
Around  the  holy  altar  sacrificial, 
Drowsy  with  cassia  fumes  and  stringent  spices, 
The  heady  nekoth,  the  sweet  smell  of  heaven, 
Lying  and  dozing  with  the  sacred  serpents, 
Listening  to  eunuchs  idly  thrum  the  viol, 
Nodding  their  chins  upon  their  tuneless  nebels, 


288  LOT'S  WIFE. 

Linger  the  chosen  lovers  of  the  altar, 
Perfumed  and  supple,  in  a  gaudy  raiment, 
Oiled  to  the  beard  and  like  fresh  lilies  fragrant, 
Drenched  with  basam,  and  cinnamon's  sweet  juices, 
Praying  to  Anu  to  secure  them  lovers  ; 
Lovers  who  would  reward  their  warm  caresses 
With  costly  gifts  of  onycha  and  ointment ; 
Lovers  who  lavish  galbanum  in  plenty, 
When  cloyed  and  satisfied  with  their  embracing, 
And  they  to  all  will  amorously  pander, 
Being  of  loves  mysterious  and  strange  passions 
The  slaves,  the  chosen  and  the  perfect  masters. 


There  in  the  inner  gloom,  like  a  strong  wind, 
Arose  the  high  priest's  grave,  majestic  song  : 


LOT'S  WIFE.  289 


SONG  OF  PRIESTS. 

Oh,  sacred  Nergal !  on  thy  high  throne  stately, 
Protect  us  now,  for  we  respect  thee  greatly. 

Judge  of  the  golden  scepter,  vast  and  holy, 
Guard  us  from  evil's  messengers,  we  pray  thee. 
Our  lives  are  given  and  fettered  to  obey  thee. 

We  worship  thee  alone,  thy  glory  solely  ! 

Thou  art  alone  our  master  pure  and  rightful  ; 
In  thee  are  all  things  perfect  and  delightful ; 

Thou,  thou  alone  of  heavenly  kings  art  regal  ! 
We  bow  before  thee  in  our  utter  rankness, 
In  all  our  sin's  ignoble,  naked  frankness  ; 

Thy  mandates  to  our  souls  are  ever  legal. 

For  thee,  oh  Nebo,  thunderful  and  glorious  ! 
We,  thy  poor  slaves,  are  loving  and  laborious  ; 

Around  thy  shrines  the  zonahs  strike  loud  cymbals. 
Dawn,  day  and  night  we  worship  and  we  praise  thee 
With  holy  brass,  and  golden  altars  raise  thee, 

Amid  the  clashing  of  a  thousand  tymbals. 

(19) 


2QO  LOT'S   WIFE. 

Before  thy  brow  multipotent  and  lustrous, 
Bow  countless  legions  of  the  rabble  blustrous, 

Before  thy  holy  sword  that  flashes  lightning, 
Ay,  to  thy  throne  of  spices  and  of  scarlet, 
The  priest,  the  slave,  the  stranger  and  the  harlot 

Come  on  their  knees  thy  praises  ever  heightening. 

Each  day  thy  templed  grees  are  stained  and  gory 
With  human  blood  to  sanctify  thy  glory  ; 

Our  crimson  hands  for  thee  are  never  idle, 
For  thee  we  slay  the  tamar-scented  maiden 
Who  with  strong  faith  approaches,  jewel-laden, 

To  woo  thee  by  her  death  to  awful  bridal. 

To  thee  our  king,  great  Bera  proud  and  splendid, 
Prays  on  his  knees  when  the  cool  dawn  hath  ended, 

He,  of  all  earthly  kings  the  puissant  leader, 
Who  brings  thee  tribute  of  sweet  nard  delicious, 
Stacte  and  gold  to  crave  thy  glance  propitious, 

With  many  slaves,  and  cinnamon  and  cedar  ! 

Before  thy  throne  majestic,  god  tremendous  ! 
Crawl  in  a  drowsy  ecstasy,  stupendous, 
The  sacred  serpents  in  calm  adoration  ; 


LOT'S   WIFE.  291 

They  curl  around  thy  worshipers  who  perish, 
Crushed  in  damp  folds,  but,  dying,  only  cherish 
The  hope  to  win  thy  smile  as  compensation. 

Oh  Nergal !  in  thy  many-pillared  palace, 
Be  not  unto  our  supplications  callous  ; 

See  us  with  blood  upon  our  brows,  and  bless  us, 
Give  us  thy  strength  to  battle  with  the  foemen, 
Open  our  souls  by  thy  portentous  omen, 

And  spare  us,  master,  for  our  sins  distress  us  ! 


The  night  had  come ;  the  city  was  aflame 

With  lust,  and  music,  and  continual  song, 

And  through  the  crowded  streets  the  people  passed, 

Unconscious  of  the  dawning  of  a  care. 

Shinab,  the  King  of  Admah,  with  a  suite 

Of  many  chieftains  of  his  tribe,  had  come 

To  bow  before  King  Bera,  Sodom's  king, 

And  King  Shemeber,  lord  of  Zeboim, 

And  Birsha,  the  divine  and  holy  one, 

King  of  Gomorrah,  the  great  sister  town, 

Having  saluted  all  the  city's  gods, 

And  having  filled  the  city's  ways  with  gold, 


LOT'S  WIFE. 

Were  seated  in  King  Bera's  banquet  hall 
And  entertained  by  melodies  of  harps. 
And  all  the  people  praised  the  god-given  kings, 
Chatted,  and  were  most  merry  of  their  lives, 
And   mocked  the  moon,  and   laughed   with    strangers 
there. 

Then  the  gay  zonah,  bearing  her  silk  tent, 
Passed  by  and  flashed  her  lovely  eyes  about, 
To  tempt  the  people  to  come  in  with  her, 
And  in  her  luring  beauty  paused  and  sang  : 


LOT'S  WIFE.  293 


SONG. 

Oh,  sweet  passer  !  I  am  fair, 

For  the  lily  scents  my  hair, 
Made  most  redolent  and  glossy  by  the  radiant  roses'  oil  ; 

My  ringed  arms  are  dazzling  white, 

And  my  kiss  is  a  delight, 
While  the  sweet  alhenna  clusters  burn  my  bosom  while  I  toil. 

Like  my  goddess,  great  Ishtar, 

My  black  glance  outshines  a  star, 
And  my  form  is  warm  and  wavy,  like  the  palm  and  the  tamar  ; 

I  have  sapphires  and  rare  gems 

On  my  mantle's  scarlet  hems, 
And  the  unguents  on  my  haunches  come  o'er  deserts  from  afar. 

I  hold,  hidden  in  my  tent, 
Drugs  of  love  and  ravishment, 

And  a  bed  where   fragrant  lilies  lie  with  birdlings'  downy 
plumes  ; 


294  LOTS  WIFE. 

I  hold  passion  and  desire 
To  inspire  love's  sleepy  fire, 
And  to  stir  the  sullen  pulses  in  soft  aromatic  glooms  ! 


Till  the  midnight  I  will  sing 

Unto  Nebo,  the  great  king, 
And  my  asor's  gentle  music  will  allay  thy  fevered  rest  ; 

Thou  shalt  slumber  till  my  birds 

Wake  to  hear  my  loving  words, 
While  I  press  a  thrice-born  passion  on  the  marble  of  my  breast. 

The  pure  night  is  waning  fast ; 

Oh,  my  god  Yem,  unsurpassed  ! 
Send  me  golden  lovers  many,  ay,  if  only  for  a  span  ! 

And,  oh  passers  wise  and  brave  ! 

Be  not  tempted  by  yon  slave, 
For  my  kisses  are  far  sweeter  than  the  kisses  of  a  man  ! 


Then  from  the  surging  multitude  one  man, 
A  Hamathite,  so  reckoned  by  his  beard, 
Curly  and  redolent  with  sickening  spice, 
Spake  to  the  attentive  zonah  and  took  gold, 


LOTS  WIFE.  295 

Three  golden  pieces  from  his  inner  belt, 
And  went  with  her,  while  all  the  people  laughed, 
For  he,  a  stranger,  knew  not  that  her  kiss 
Was  purchasable  for  a  silver  bit. 

And  while  they  laughed  an  old  man  sauntered  by, 

Reeking  with  drugs  and  spices  to  the  nails, 

His  ears  were  ringed  with  monstrous  Hivite  coins  ; 

Great  golden  bracelets  clasped  his  nervous  arms  ; 

His  sandals  were  besprent  with  many  pearls, 

And  his  loose  robes  were  woven  of  rustling  things. 

The  people  ceased  all  laughter,  as  a  bird 

Ceases  to  sing  when  arrows  hurt  the  air, 

And  he,  the  white-haired,  paused,  and  with  a  voice 

Shrill  as  the  sound  of  flinty  rocks  when  rubbed, 

Smiled  through  his  colors  and  sang,  even  thus : 


296  LOT'S  WIFE. 


SONG. 

Come  to  me,  all  ye  who  burn 

For  a  passion  in  return  ! 

There  are  perfumes  on  my  body  and  fresh  leaves  upon  my 
hair ; 

I  am  sleek  and  very  wise, 

I  know  woman's  softest  sighs, 
And  my  kisses  warm  and  manly  all  the  senses  can  ensnare. 

I  am  old,  ay,  very  old, 

And  my  price  is  bricks  of  gold, 
Being  chief  and  holy  master  of  the  lovers  of  the  town. 

I  am  high  priest  unto  Bel, 

In  the  grace  of  Vul  I  dwell, 

And  the  motion  of  my  pleasure  is  a  song  and  a  renown  ! 
\ 

I  have  been  the  pampered  slave 
Of  King  Amraphel,  the  grave, 

I  have  swooned  and  slumbered  often  in  King  Chedorlaomer's 
arms. 


LOT^S   WIFE.  297 

There  is  gold  within  my  house, 
There  are  jewels  on  ray  brows, 

And  my  breast  is  warm  and  tender  as  an  Arkite  maiden's 
charms  ! 

I  have  drugs  to  warm  afresh 

The  dull  failings  of  the  flesh, 
I  have  grateful  food  and  spices,  and  suave  basams  honey-pure, 

And  when  laggard  from  excess 

Of  my  amorous  caress, 
I  will  sing  thee  Nergal's  praises  on  the  many-stringed  kinoor. 

See  !  the  dawn  is  coming  soon  ; 

There  is  slumber  in  the  moon  ; 
Hasten,  passer  !  hasten,  stranger  !  to  my  tent's  enticing  shade. 

Be  not  tempted  by  the  cry 

Of  the  zonahs  strutting  by, 
For  my  kisses  are  far  sweeter  than  the  kisses  of  a  maid ! 


Then  came  a  youth  who  paused  amid  the  crowd, 
Browed  like  a  king  and  lovely  as  the  stars. 
His  beard  was  merry  with  exotic  spice, 
And  there  was  love  within  his  perfect  eyes  ; 
He  was  well  sandaled,  and  he  sang  this  wise  : 


298  LOTS  WIFE, 


SONG. 

Oh,  sweet  passer !  I  am  strong, 

Grace  and  charm  to  me  belong ; 
All  my  flesh  is  like  soft  sammet  and  my  muscles  rival  steel  ; 

I  have  spices  on  my  breast  ; 

My  dark  locks  are  oiled  and  tressed, 
And  the  wounds  of  suffering  passion  I  can  mollify  and  heal. 

Hark,  all  ye  who  round  me  throng, 

I  can  sing  a  lulling  song, 
I  can  charm  you  with  the  cadence  of  my  rich  sonorous  voice, 

And  with  suave,  melodious  words, 

Sweeter  far  than  trills  of  birds, 
I  can  win  your  languid  pleasure  and  can  make  the  soul  rejoice  ! 

To  our  king  one  festal  night 
I  gave  rapture  and  delight, 

And  he  crowned  my  brows  with  myrtle,  ay  !  and  kissed  me  on 
his  throne  ; 


LOT'S  WIFE.  299 

For  my  beauty  is  as  rare 
As  Askar's,  surnamed  the  Fair, 
And  the  secrets  of  sweet  passion  unto  me  belong  alone  ! 

There  is  ever  new  surprise 

In  the  poem  of  mine  eyes ; 
I  am  lithe,  and  light,  and  supple,  like  the  leopard  of  the  plain  ; 

My  curled  hair  has  reached  the  length 

Of  the  lion's  in  his  strength, 
And  my  kiss  is  warm  and  fragrant  like  the  falling  of  the  rain  ! 

I  have  zonahs  in  my  house, 

With  white  lilies  on  their  brows, 
To  excite  you  by  soft  kisses  and  white  perfume-reeking  arms, 

While  I  beckon  your  embrace 

In  the  splendor  of  my  grace, 
While  you  play  in  joy  ecstatic  with  the  beauty  of  their  charms  ! 

Oh,  sweet  passer  !  do  not  heed 

Yon  old  creature  in  his  need, 

For  his  words  are  false  and  worthless,  and  a  century , dims  his 
fire  ; 

He  gives  herbs  and  venomed  roots  ; 

His  cold  kiss  is  like  a  brute's, 
And  the  spasms  of  god-like  passion  his  decrepit  carcass  tire  ! 


300  LOT'S  WIFE. 

Come  to  me,  all  ye  who  crave 

The  sweet  passion  of  a  slave  ! 
Bring  me  gold,  or  wine  and  honey,  and  my  kisses  will  be  yours  ; 

And  I  swear  by  mighty  Bel 

To  anoint  and  please  you  well, 

While   my   naked   zonahs    press  you,    and   the    balmy  night 
endures  ! 


And  ere  the  last  dull  sound  had  left  his  lips, 
Men  crowded  near  him  with  uncurbed  desire, 
Feeling  his  feeble  limbs  and  bargaining  there 
To  learn  his  secrets  and  the  joys  thereof  ; 
And  with  a  citizen,  who  spake  of  gold 
In  undipped  bricks,  and  silver  coin  beside, 
He  left  the  streets,  and  no  one  stirred  or  smiled  ; 
While  envy  for  a  moment  dusked  all  brows, 
For  some  had  coin,  but  owned  no  golden  bricks. 

King  Bera,  with  his  beard  curled  like  a  rose, 
Lay  on  his  cushions  near  the  regal  board, 
Laden  with  savory  meats  and  bursting  fruit, 
Honey,  and  heating  herbs,  and  sweetened  wines  ; 
While  near  his  sceptered  hand  lay  Birsha,  king 
Of  high  Gomorrah,  sacred  as  the  gods, 


LOT'S  WIFE.  301 

And  on  inferior  mats  of  violet  wool, 

Burning  with  fear  and  envy  to  their  eyes, 

Sat  Shinab,  king  of  Admah,  and  the  lord 

And  sacred  king  Shemeber,  who  had  come 

From  Zeboim  with  high  tributes  to  the  gods, 

To  Bel,  the  procreator,  they  had  prayed, 

To  Vul,  the  god  of  atmospheres  ;   and,  lo  ! 

They  were  an  hungered  and  were  worn  of  prayer, 

And  listened  to  the  melodies  of  lutes, 

That  pleased  and  soothed  them  as  they  humbly  ate. 

Then  did  Ashcar,  the  favorite  of  the  king, 
His  laughing  counselor  and  his  body's  friend, 
One  whom  he  loved  with  all  surpassing  love, 
And  who  from  birth  was  destined  for  his  bed, 
Being  of  princely  blood  in  his  own  right, 
Arise,  and,  merry  with  the  warming  wine, 
Sing  to  the  god-king,  thrumming  the  asor  : 


302  LOT'S  WIFE. 


SONG   OF   THE    KING'S    FAVORITE. 

Mighty  Bera,  no  one  raises 

Unto  thee  the  praise  of  praises  ; 

Every  day  thy  people  hail  thee 
With  the  songs  that  are  the  same. 

With  no  blame  dare  they  assail  thee, 

Or  with  merry  meaning  flail  thee, 
And  the  gods  in  wrath  forsake  them  in  their  unprolific  shame  ! 

I  will  sing  thy  praises  splendid, 

Which  on  earth  have  never  ended  ; 

I  will  tell  the  tribes  in  wonder 
Of  thy  prowesses  unknown  ; 

I  will  prove,  and  without  blunder, 

That  above  the  stars  or  under 
There  are  none  who  boast  the  glories  that  to  thee  belong  alone ! 

Are  there  in  thy  cities  many 
Happy,  valiant  soldiers,  any 
Who  can  smoothe  the  perfumed  tresses 
Of  a  lithe  and  brawny  slave, 


LOT'S   WIFE.  303 

And  with  rapturous  caresses 
Wear  his  spirit  by  excesses, 

As  them  canst,  oh,  wondrous  master  !  when  strong  passions  in 
thee  rave  ? 

Are  there  any  monarchs  near  thee, 

Who  implore  thee  and  who  fear  thee, 

Who  can  tire  in  soft  prostration 
The  dark  maidens  of  the  town, 

With  such  fleshly  adulation, 

With  such  virile  animation, 
As  thine  own,  oh,  haughty  monarch  !  of  all  terror  and  renown  ? 

No  !  thou  art  alone,  oh  master  ! 
And  my  praises,  swelling  faster, 
Must  as  god  of  gods  acclaim  thee 

In  the  splendor  of  thy  loins  ; 

For  no  draining  love  can  tame  thee, 
Nor  can  lover's  deeds  ashame  thee, 

When  a  fever  with  sweet  passion  in  thy  robust  bosom  joins  ! 

Thou  art  God,  supreme  and  holy, 
To  be  loved  and  worshiped  solely, 
For  thy  breast  is  filled  with  gladness 
And  thine  eyes  all  foes  destroy  ! 


304  LOTS  WIFE. 

In  thy  flesh  there  is  no  badness, 
No  corruption,  and  no  sadness, 
And  the  offal  of  thy  body  is  a  perfume  and  a  joy  ! 


Loud  swelled  the  laughter,  and  the  cymbals  clashed ; 
The  puissant  king  made  sign,  and  to  them  came 
Nude  girls  with  starry  eyes  and  scented  hair, 
Dancing  in  dreamy  posturings,  that  made 
The  wine-warm  bosoms  of  the  kings  expand, 
And  cry  aloud  :  "Bel !  thou  alone  art  great !" 
Their  eyes  grew  lustrous,  for  the  Sodom  drugs 
Had  breathed  hot  poison  in  their  slavish  veins, 
And,  to  the  sound  of  titillating  lutes, 
King  Shinab  rose  in  ecstasy's  first  throe, 
Clasping  a  maiden  in  his  close  embrace  ; 
And  haughty  Birsha,  great  Gomorrah's  king, 
Chose  for  his  own  an  Ardavitish  slave, 
Whose  limbs  were  like  great  serpents  coiled  in  flesh1; 
And  in  a  wanton  slumber  Sodom's  king 
Lay,  languid,  in  the  smiling  Ashcar's  arms, 
While  high  in  utter  heaven  the  tranquil  stars 
Shed  streams  of  silver  on  the  illumined  town, 
Crowning  with  light  the  insolent  debauch, 


LOT'S  WIFE.  305 

And,  as  the  mighty  monarchs  swooned  and  writhed 
In  joys  ineffable,  from  the  open  courts 
Arose  the  voices,  on  the  bastions  near, 
Of  bearded  soldiers  singing  to  the  moon  : 


20) 


306  LOT'S  WIFE. 


CHORUS   OF   THE   WARRIORS    OF   SODOM. 

By  sweet  love  we  are  not  weak, 

And  our  vengeance  we  can  wreak 
Upon  any  foe  audacious  who  doth  dare  to  stand  before  us  ! 

There  is  danger  in  our  eyes, 

There  is  slaughter  in  our  cries, 

When  the  blaring  trumpets  thunder  and  our  banners  flutter 
o'er  us. 

We  have  fallen  like  a  rain 
On  the  cowards  of  the  plain. 

We   have   thrust   our   glittering   lances  in   their   bosoms  un- 
victorious. 

We  have  faced  the  Girgashites 
And  the  haughty  Jebusites, 

And    have   made   the   valley   pregnant   with    their    carcasses 
inglorious  ! 

The  Rephaim  we  have  sought 
In  their  fastnesses,  and  fought 

With  these  monsters  than  trees  taller,  all  in  iron  and  armor 
shielded. 


LOTS  WIFE.  307 

We  have  met  them  face  to  face, 
And  by  Vul's  immortal  grace 

We   have  stricken  and  have  felled  them    till  their   haughty 
spirit  yielded  ! 

Amraphel  of  far  Shinar, 
In  his  burnished  battle-car, 

We  have  met  upon  the  meadows  in  the  combat  fierce  and 
frantic, 

And  have  saved  from  heroes'  graves 
Even  his  sons,  to  be  our  slaves, 

And  have  crushed  his  power  triumphant   by  our  prowesses 
gigantic  ! 

Oh,  sweet  Anu,  if  our  king, 

Holy  Bera,  with  the  sting 
Of  our  lashing  swords  and  lances  will  allow  us  to  adore  thee, 

On  the  Hittites  we  will  fall, 

And  their  chiefs  and  maidens  all 

We  will  smite,  and  slay,  and  ravish,  and  in  thousands  bring 
before  thee  ! 

For  we  weary  of  all  rest ; 
There  is  rust  upon  our  breast, 
And  we  tire  of  Sodom's  splendor  and  the  pretty  zonah's  tattle  ! 


308  LOT'S  WIFE. 

There  are  foemen  in  the  plain  ; 
Lead  us  onward  there  again, 

Oh,  great  Nergal  !   while  we  languish  for  the  glories  of  the 
battle  ! 

And  echoing  the  defiance  of  their  throats, 

In  Vul's  dark  sanctuary  the  high  priests  sang  : 

"  Oh,  mighty  Nergal !  guard  our  sacred  city  ; 
Watch  us  and  bless  us  in  thy  holy  pity  ; 

Lighten  our  brows  and  waft  thy  blessings  o'er  us  ; 
Give  us  the  strength  all  time  to  bow  before  thee  ; 
Give  us  eternal  seasons  to  adore  thee, 

And  we  will  praise  thee  through  our  brass  sonorous  !  " 

Then  the  sweet  wings  of  night  upon  the  town 
Were  softly  spread,  and  all  its  ways  were  still. 

PART    II. 

Now  Lot,  the  son  of  Haran,  dwelt  within 
The  city's  walls  and  loved  its  many  ways  ; 
But  he  was  pure  of  heart  unto  his  praise, 

And  much  deplored  all  God-defying  sin. 


LOT'S  WIFE.  309 

He  lived  estranged  from  the  licentious  throng, 
Doting  upon  the  fairness  of  his  wife, 
Proud  of  the  blameless  quiet  of  his  life, 

A  righteous  man  and  unashamed  of  song. 

For  he  had  sisters  twain,  alert  and  gay, 
Milcah  and  Iscah,  and  their  voices,  blent 
In  praise  to  God,  would  send  a  ravishment 

Unto  him,  at  the  twilight  of  the  day. 

His  cares  were  many,  having  many  tents, 
Asses  and  numerous  flocks,  and  camels,  too  ; 
And  he  was  judge,  and  had  just  deeds  to  do, 

Though  there  was  little  for  his  recompense. 

His  tastes  were  simple,  for  he  loved  his  herds, 
His  silent  oxen  with  imploring  eyes, 
And  loved  to  see  them  graze,  for  he  was  wise, 

And  smiled  at  the  sweet  trebles  of  his  birds. 

He  praised  the  beauteous  advent  of  the  spring, 

And  the  rare,  fructuous  loves  of  heaven  and  earth  ; 
Their  beauteous  nuptials  brought  prolific  birth. 

Like  rain  on  meadows  when  the  sparrows  sing. 


310  LOT'S  WIFE. 

And  he  was  fain  to  worship  and  adore 
In  his  heart's  secrecy  a  higher  god 
Than  Nergal,  who  to  him  was  but  a  clod  ; 

And  he  was  rich  enough  to  scent  his  floor. 

Now  Ilcah,  Lot's  fair  wife,  in  Sodom  born, 
Was  in  her  sullied  heart  adverse  to  him  ; 
Because  his  eyes  by  labor  had  grown  dim, 

She  suffered  by  his  love  in  silent  scorn. 

For  he  was  like  old  dreamers  in  the  night, 
Loving  to  doze  and  ponder  on  his  herds,  - 
And  even  his  infrequent  passion  words 

Were  tame  unto  her,  offering  no  delight. 

She,  in  the  blooming  May-time  of  her  years, 
With  passionate  eyes  and  lustrous  veils  of  hair, 
Yearned  for  love's  ecstasy  and  its  despair, 

A.  love  of  laughter,  ravishment  and  tears. 

And  she,  grown  weary  of  Lot's  grave  renown, 
Would  seek  the  city's  heart  on  festal  days, 
And  strut  like  zonahs  on  its  marble  ways, 

For  she  adored  a  man  within  the  town, 


LOT'S  WIFE.  311 


One  whom  her  girlish  spirit  idolized, 
A  valorous  chief,  a  most  athletic  man, 
With  mighty  limbs,  known  as  the  lord  Suran, 

Who  for  his  famed  virility  was  prized. 

And  he  had  led  her  to  Vul's  temple,  where, 
Ravished  by  his  bright  armor  and  the  glance 
Of  conquering  eyes,  in  a  voluptuous  trance 

She  veiled  his  breast  with  all  her  loosened  hair. 

And  while  the  priests  officiating  cried  : 

"  Give  to  great  Vul,  oh  women  !  all  your  charms  ! 

She  lay  amort  with  love  within  his  arms, 
And  on  his  perfumed  bosom  softly  sighed. 

And  he,  for  she  was  ravenous  to  learn, 

Taught  her  the  mysteries  and  the  holy  rites 
That  steeped  her  bosom  in  unknown  delights, 

Strange  pressures,  and  new  minglements  that  burn  ! 

And  she  revered  the  aroma  of  his  beard, 

Giving  her  radiant  body  for  his  play, 

And  in  the  temple  in  the  hot  midday, 
Alone,  to  tempt  his  vigor  she  appeared. 


312  LOT'S  WIFE. 

Veiled  to  the  eyes,  but  amorous  of  the  spot, 
Loving  the  sensual  magic  of  the  gloom, 
Seeking  sweet  impious  bonds  that  foster  doom, 

Her  heart  made  merry  by  her  scorn  of  Lot. 

Her  limbs  were  maddened  by  strong  Suran's  touch  ; 

She  sang  to  him  in  passionate  unrest ; 

His  curled  head  was  warm  upon  her  breast  ; 
His  flanks  were  fruitful,  and  she  loved  him  much. 

Ay,  with  such  adoration  that,  to  fill 

His  lecherous  eyes  with  raptures  held  so  dear, 
She  would  have  braved  cold  death  without  a  fear, 

If,  following,  Suran  would  have  loved  her  still ! 

To  please  his  whim  at  the  great  autumn  feast, 
Held  to  Vul's  glory  on  the  dying  year, 
Rosy  and  nude,  fair  Ilcah  did  appear, 

Surrendering  her  beauty  to  the  priest. 

Ay,  in  the  holy  vaults,  for  Suran's  sake, 
She  learned  the  arcana  of  the  zonahs  there, 
Slumbering  with  women  amorous  and  bare, 

So  that  he,  too,  in  pleasure  might  partake. 


LOT'S   WIFE.  313 

And  she  in  beauty  through  the  temple  trod, 

Warm  with  her  loves  and  flushed  by  flowers  and  wine, 
Hailing  her  prostitution  as  divine 

And  most  delightful,  worthy  of  her  god. 

And  Lot  had  honored  her  with  manly  trust, 
And  let  the  days  pass  dreaming  of  his  herds, 
Counting  his  kine  and  listening  to  his  birds, 

Serenely  unsuspicious  and  most  just. 


Now  God  was  angered  at  the  vice  of  Sodom. 
Each  day  her  sins  became  more  bold  and  grievous. 
Lust  was  abroad  upon  her  many  highways, 
And  it  was  worshiped  in  a  throng  of  temples. 
So  He  resolved  to  chastise  and  to  doom  it 
With  scorching  flame,  alert  and  purifying. 

And  Abraham,  a  man  of  prayer  and  holy, 
A  friend  to  Lot,  who  loved  him  like  a  father, 
Implored  the  Lord  in  humble  intercession, 
And  stood  before  Him,  desolate  and  anxious, 
Crying  :  "  O  Lord  !  if  Thou  this  town  destroyest, 
Thou  mayest  in  Thy  wrath  destroy  the  guiltless, 


3i4  LOT'S  WIFE. 

Who  much  abhor  the  awful  dereliction 
Of  their  lost  brethren,  deaf  to  prayer  or  pity. 
Spare  Thou  the  town  for  their  sake,  oh  Jehovah  ! 
If  in  its  tainted  tents  I  can  discover 
Fifty  whose  hearts  are  pure,  and  peradventure 
I  may  by  such  a  proof  appease  Thy  rancor !  " 
And  God  consented  ;  then  did  Abraham  boldly, 
For  his  whole  heart  was  beautiful  and  noble, 
Implore  again,  braving  the  Lord's  displeasure  : 
"  For  ten's  sake  only,  wilt  Thou  still  forgive  it  ? " 
Such  was  his  tenderness  for  unhappy  Sodom  ; 
And  the  Lord  listened  and  again  consented 
To  count  the  upright  souls  and  save  the  city. 


Veiling  their  heavenly  essence,  vaguely  hoping, 
The  angels  passed  into  the  town  atrocious, 
Seeking  Lot's  home  for  sympathy  and  shelter, 
For  they  were  beautiful  in  their  disguises, 
And  roused  swift  passion  in  the  men  that  saw  them 
Pass  in  grave  radiance  through  the  city's  portals. 
And  Lot,  bewildered  by  their  coming,  startled 
By  lustful  cries  of  many  at  his  doorway, 
Concealed  them  in  the  darkness  of  his  chamber, 
And  offered  to  the  throng  his  nubile  daughters  ; 


LOT'S  WIFE.  315 

Ay,  for  his  hospitality  was  sacred, 
And  the  vile  rabble  who  had  greatly  lusted 
For  the  white  strangers,  and  their  beauty  only, 
Hurried  on  elsewhere  in  their  anger,  baffled, 
Cursed  him  aloud  and  spat  upon  his  threshold. 


Then  came  to  Lot  the  pale,  affrighted  angels, 
Saying  :  "  Good  man,  thy  life  is  now  in  danger  ! 
Within  these  walls  accursed  can  be  no  pardon. 
The  people  for  their  infamy  must  perish  ; 
Such  is  the  will  of  the  Lord  God  Jehovah  ! 
And  with  our  eyes  we  can  not  see  salvation, 
Nor  have  we  now  the  power  to  avert  destruction. 
We  must  return  to  the  Eternal  Father, 
For  He  hath  spoken,  and  we  know  His  meaning. 
Sodom  is  doomed  to  be  a  smoking  desert, 
Shorn  of  its  gods,  its  roses  and  its  temples, 
Covered  with  briars  and  labyrinths  of  brambles, 
Stricken  by  scourging  salt  and  burning  sulphur, 
And  on  its  ruins  there  will  be  no  planting, 
Ay,  on  its  ruins  there  will  be  no  sowing! 
Therefore  we  warn  thee,  for  thy  soul  is  righteous  ; 
Arise  and  call  thy  family  together, 
Iscah  and  Milcah,  thy  devoted  sisters, 


3i6  LOT'S  WIFE. 

And  with  them  and  the  wife  thou  lovest,  Ilcah  ; 

Depart  from  out  the  city  with  great  caution, 

Ay,  with  thy  flocks,  ay,  even  with  thy  cattle, 

And  seek  another  land  of  grain  and  plenty. 

Fear  not,  kind  Lot,  for  Abraham  will  be  near  thee  !  " 

And  then,  saluting  Lot  with  smiling  kindness, 

They  spread  their  wings  and  waved  their  white  way 

upward ! 

And  o'er  the  glare  and  tattle  of  the  city, 
Like  a  great  star  of  light  in  woody  darkness, 
They  paused  and  sang  a  piteous  lamentation  : 


LOT'S  WIFE.  317 


SONG   OF   THE   ANGELS. 

We  flew  with  white  wings  fluttering  o'er  the  nation, 

Bearing  God's  promise  of  divine  salvation, 

If  worthy  men  were  found  in  prayer's  prostration. 

We  sought  the  righteous,  pure  of  heart  and  holy, 
The  priest-deceived,  the  ignorant,  the  lowly, 
Those  who  for  sinning  do  not  languish  solely, 

Those  who  unto  the  boundless  skies  aspire, 

Who  live  and  hope  that  fate  holds  something  higher 

Than  bestial  altars  stained  with  blood  and  fire, 

But  we  have  failed,  and  in  our  indignation 
We  have  beheld,  with  cries  and  lamentation, 
Enormous  sin,  idolatry,  stupration, 

Ignoble  rites  of  brutishness  horrific, 
Pollution  infamous  to  the  Omnific, 
Disgusting  lust  and  revelries  morbific  ! 


318  LOTS  WIFE. 

We  fail  to  find  a  spirit  pure  and  blameless  ! 
The  town  is  feverish  with  passions  shameless, 
Atrocious  cries  and  prostitution  nameless, 

False  worship  hideous,  sacrifice  diurnal 
Unto  a  sceptered  clod,  a  god  infernal, 
Orgies  and  crime,  defying  the  Eternal ! 

We  will  away  !  Our  prayers  can  no  sin  sunder  ; 
Corruption  sways  the  town  above  and  under ; 
We  leave  it  to  God's  lightning  and  His  thunder  ! 


Now  Ilcah,  trifling  with  her  favorite  birds, 
Had  heard  in  vague  dismay  the  angels'  words, 
And  to  the  bastion  where  proud  Suran  kept 
His  mighty  vigil  she  with  caution  crept, 
And  spake  to  him  in  feverish  unrest, 
Panting  and  timid,  by  great  fears  possessed, 
For  doubt  had  dawned  within  her,  and  she  feared 
The  unknown  God  that  Abraham  revered. 
And  Suran  mocked  her  and  her  child-alarms, 
For  he  was  fain  to  hold  her  in  his  arms, 
And  see  the  perfect  summer  of  love's  June 
Mantle  her  cheeks  below  the  mellow  moon. 


LOT'S  WIFE.  319 

With  many  jests  he  won  her  fears  away, 

Soothed  her  worn  thoughts  and  tempered  her  dismay, 

And  lied  with  fervor,  saying  he  had  seen, 

Crouched  in  Vul's  temple,  near  the  holy  screen, 

The  white-faced  strangers,  ay,  the  angels  fair, 

Enter,  and  choosing  from  the  zonahs  there, 

Depart  unto  the  temple's  inner  shrine. 

Heated  with  lust  and  radiant  with  wine, 

Ay,  even  so,  he  cried  :  "  But,  Ilcah,  sweet, 

If  the  sad  town  this  threatened  doom  must  meet. 

I,  warned  and  ready  by  thy  love  for  me, 

Will  be  alert,  and  I  will  follow  thee, 

Ay,  to  another  land,  beneath  new  stars, 

I  swear  it  by  the  grace  that  is  Ishtar's, 

I  swear  it  by  the  lengthy  beard  of  Bel ; 

This  will  I  do,  for  I  do  love  thee  well !  " 

Then,  like  a  weary  bird  that  finds  its  nest, 

Calm  and  content,  she  lingered  on  his  breast. 

The  pure  dawn  came,  and  Lot,  with  wrinkled  brows 
Made  dull  by  care  and  most  engrossing  thought, 
Bade  Ilcah  and  his  servant  men  prepare 
And  leave  the  town,  adding  no  other  word, 
Save  that  the  Lord  had  bidden  him  do  the  same, 
For  doom  impendent  hovered  on  the  town, 


320  LOT'S  WIFE. 

And  that,  when  far  upon  the  Siddim  plain, 
No  soul  should  turn  to  see  the  city's  fate, 
Or  cast  a  pitying  glance  upon  its  shame  ; 
Such  was  the  will  of  God  ;  and  if  in  fear 
An  eager  eye  unto  the  bastions  turned, 
Then  would  the  disobedient  suffer  death  ! 

So  they  went  forth  in  silence  and  deep  pain, 

While  night,  impenetrable,  veiled  the  plain. 

Then  the  Lord  spake,  and  lo  !  the  ominous  thunder 

Was  heard  about  His  brows  in  fury  gathering  ! 

Wan  sheets  of  lurid  lightning  writhed  and  scattered 

The  battling  clouds  united  to  impede  them, 

With  walls  of  rain  and  leagues  of  seething  vapor. 

Down  through  the  shields  of  mist  His  bolts  were  driven; 

Unleashed  and  maddened  o'er  the  universes, 

In  glowing  seconds  did  they  swiftly  traverse 

Spaces  illimitable,  nameless  distance, 

Before,  in  strength  tremendous  concentrating, 

In  dizzy  worlds  of  fire  they  hurried  downward. 

They  fell  with  wrath  vertiginous  and  awful 
Upon  the  puny  jasper  of  Vul's  temple, 
Striking  to  nothingness  the  giant  columns, 
Blow  upon  blow,  so  swift  that  they  were  painless, 


LOT'S  WIFE.  321 

Scythed  the  deep,  serried  ranks  of  priests  attending, 

Arid  lingered  in  a  moving  mass  horrific 

Upon  the  domes,  ere  rising  to  the  heavens 

Again  to  fall,  leading  death's  cortege  with  them. 

Hope  there  was  none,  and  there  was  nowhere  shelter. 

Severe,  implacable,  a  flood  of  brimstone 

And  searching  fire  from  the  wild  heaven  descended, 

While  the  earth  trembled  in  stupendous  travail, 

And  upon  hosts  of  blanchened  victims  opened. 

Loud  o'er  the  hell  of  flame  arose  in  anguish 

The  dolorous  shrieks  of  nations  pale  and  hideous, 

Begging  their  gods  in  agony  to  spare  them, 

While  o'er  the  imploring  palms  and  wrinkled  foreheads 

The  haughty  palaces  and  great  domes  tottered, 

And  unto  dust  the  granite  bastions  crumbled  ! 

Fire,  fire,  eternal  fire  their  homes  assaulted, 

And  there  was  madness,  but  no  sweet  salvation  ! 


Pale  and  dismayed,  the  king,  the  mighty  Bera, 
Fled  from  his  throne  in  silence  and  in  terror, 
Fled  to  the  streets  where  everywhere  around  him 
Lay  his  crushed  hosts  of  people  and  supporters, 
While  o'er  the  fire  a  mighty  invocation 
Rose  from  the  priests,  his  sanctity  surrounding  : 

(21) 


322  LOT'S  WIFE. 

"  Oh,  lofty  Vul  !  from  thy  marble  beauty  gaze  upon  us  ; 
Spare  in  thy  wrath  thine  adorers,  who  are  stricken  by  the 
Fire  that  hath  dared  on  thy  temple's  glory  insolently 
'Now  to  fall  fast,  all  thy  holy  secrets  desecrating  ! 
Turn  in  thy  rage  on  the  god  afflicting  outrage  on  thee  ; 
Crush  with  thy  glance  all  his  hidden,  haughty  emis- 
saries ; 

Spread  in  the  soul  of  the  cruel  slayer,  mercilessly, 
Fear  of  thy  hand  that  alone  can  banish  torment  from  us  ! 
Strike,  awful  Vul !  and  hurl  back  to   heaven  wonder- 
fully 

All  the  fierce  flame  that  is  desolating  thy  eternal 
Shrine,  and  we  all  will  with  sacrifices  glorify  thee, 
Ay,  as  our  god,  and  will  worship  thee  perpetually !  " 

And  as  they  cried,  the  heavens  were  rent  again, 
And  swifter,  fiercer,  fell  the  blighting  rain  ! 


Far  to  the  south,  directed  by  God's  grace, 
Lot  had  made  hasty  progress  from  the  place 

For  many  a  weary  hour, 

Beseeching  the  high  Lord  with  eyes  cast  down 
To  mitigate  the  anguish  of  the  town 

And  stay  His  dooming  power. 


LOT'S  WIFE.  323 

He  dared  not  linger  to  erect  his  tents 

Or  take  repose,  such  was  his  soul's  suspense  ; 

Nor  did  he  dare  turn  back 
Where  the  dull  rumble  of  the  starless  sky 
Warned  him  the  fatal  chastisement  was  nigh. 

And  where  the  heavens  grew  black  ! 

He  heard  with  consternation  in  his  soul 
The  gathering  masses  of  the  thunder  roll  ; 

He  heard  the  cities  cry  ; 
He  saw  the  avalanche  of  fire  descend 
From  shaken  space,  ay,  without  any  end, 

And  knew  that  all  would  die  ! 

He  saw  above,  below,  and  everywhere 
A  universal  and  all-blinding  glare, 

And  bolts  that  burst  and  burn. 
Of  his  own  given  salvation  he  knew  not  ; 
He  only  knew  he  gave  the  word  of  Lot, 

And,  therefore,  did  not  turn. 

Pity  with  terror  battled  in  his  eyes  ; 
He  palmed  his  ears  to  escape  the  city's  cries  ; 
He  wept  for  the  undone. 


324  LOT'S  WIFE. 

He  found  no  solace  in  the  calm  of  prayer  ; 
He  was  all  torture,  trembling  and  despair, 
But,  resolute,  went  on. 

Then  Ilcah,  while  the  great  metropolis  blazed, 
Fell  shuddering  to  her  knees,  disheveled,  crazed, 

Trembling  with  guilty  dread, 
And  to  his  heart,  to  all  compassion  steeled, 
In  consternation  and  in  tears  appealed 

To  turn  his  steps  instead. 

"Thy  God  is  cruel,  arrogant,  unjust, 
If  thus  He  strikes  the  innocent  to  dust, 

Slaying,  when  life  He  gave ! 
Turn,  oh  my  husband  !  oh  mine  honored  Lot ! 
liet  us  return  unto  the  wretched  spot  ! 

Lift  up  thy  voice  to  save  !  " 

And  Lot  in  deep  dejection  sadly  cried  : 

"  The  Lord  hath  willed  this  in  His  injured  pride  ; 

I,  slave,  must  Him  obey. 
Pause  not,  nor  turn,  for  here  and  everywhere 
His  wrath  is  visible  and  will  not  spare  ! 

Arise  and  come  away  !  " 


LOTS  WIFE.  325 

Then  from  the  spreading  havoc  of  the  flame 
Rose  on  the  startled  air  fair  Ilcah's  name  ! 

The  voice  she  did  adore 
Called  out  in  agony  :  "  Oh,  Ilcah  mine  ! 
Be  merciful  !     Recall  the  love  once  thine  ; 

Save  me  !  I  can  no  more  ! 

"  Thy  Suran  calls  thee  ;  hasten  ere  too  late  ; 
The  fire  hath  bitten  my  feet,  oh  !  do  not  wait  ! 

The  hot  air  chokes  my  cry  ! 
Ilcah  !  oh  Ilcah  !  all  my  soul  doth  burn  ! 
Return,  oh  salvatory  love  !  return  ! 

Save  me,  or  else  I  die  !  " 

Then  like  a  tigress  of  her  young  despoiled, 
She  looked  on  Lot,  while  he  in  shame  recoiled, 

And  cried  :  "  Thou  wilt  not  save 
Yon  helpless  man,  oh  !  coward  that  thou  art, 
When  impious  rains  from  hated  heaven  dart 

To  make  his  fiery  grave  ! 

'*  I  curse  thee,  graybeard,  and  thy  God  malign  ! 
That  voice  is  Suran's,  he  is  the  divine 
Sweet  lover  of  my  soul ! 


326  LOT'S  WIFE. 

He  is  my  hope,  my  life  and  my  delight, 
My  god  by  day,  my  star  of  love  by  night, 
My  ravishment,  my  goal ! 

"  Thou  weeping,  loathsome  craven  !  go  thy  way, 
Cursed  by  my  hate  until  thy  carrion  day  ! 

Go  to  thy  God  revered  ! 
I  love  him  in  the  ruin  and  the  fire ! 
He  is  my  Lord  Jehovah  and  desire  ! 

Go,  for  I  curse  thy  beard  ! 

"  Death  in  his  loyal  arms  is  far  more  sweet 
Than  life  with  thee  in  misery  complete  ! 

With  him  'twere  good  to  die  ! 
Go  on  thy  hated  way,  go  !  go  !  obey 
Thy  nauseous  God  of  ruin  and  decay  ! 

I  to  his  arms  will  fly  !  " 

And  with  all  Sodom's  beauty  in  her  eyes, 
Rosy  with  rage,  and  passion,  and  surprise, 

Towards  the  great  plains  that  burned, 
Fearless  of  death,  irradiant  and  grand, 
In  woman's  love  transfigured  she  did  stand, 

And  in  defiance  turned  ! 


LOT'S  WIFE.  327 

Swift  through  the  sheets  of  blinding  fire  and  hail, 
Hoping  against  all  mortal  hope,  and  pale, 

Proud  in  her  noble  love, 
Made  by  her  heart's  nobility  thrice  pure, 
She  hurried  toward  him  o'er  the  fearful  moor, 

Scoffing  the  wrath  above  ! 

And  with  her  arms  around  his  panting  breast, 
Her  refuge,  her  salvation  and  her  rest, 

Once  more  she  laid  her  head, 
While  in  a  crown  a  flame,  sublime,  irate, 
The  fires  of  heaven  her  love  did  consecrate 

And  fiercer  on  them  sped. 

"  Suran,  oh  love  !  fear  not,  our  gods  are  strong  ! 
This  dire  affliction  will  not  linger  long  ! 

In  Vul's  sweet  heaven  release 
For  our  poor,  tortured  and  indignant  souls 
We  there  shall  find,  and,  oh  !  delicious  goals 

Of  everlasting  peace  ! 

"  Suran,  I  love  thee  !  Press  me  closer  still  ! 
The  desolating  flame  itself  is  chill 
To  my  love's  endless  flame  ! 


328  LOT'S  WIFE. 

Kiss  me  again !  Blot  out  this  world  of  pain  ! 
Ay,  so  again,  sweet  Suran,  so — again  !  " 


And  then  the  lightning  came. 


LOT'S  WIFE.  329 


SONG   OF   ANGELS. 


See  the  dire  fate  of  the  proud  cities  blamable, 
Blind  with  foul  lust  and  all  passions  untamable, 

Made  by  sad  sin  to  high  heaven  importunate  ! 
Once  were  they  powerful,  and  dreaded,  and  numberless  ; 
Now  are  their  souls  for  eternity  slumberless, 

Doomed  to  the  flames,  oh,  rebellion  unfortunate  ! 


Fed  with  the  fevers  of  fearful  idolatry, 
Steeped  to  the  soul  in  supreme  demonolatry, 

Tainted  with  crime  toward  the  Angels  censorious, 
Crushed  by  the  thunder-bolts'  pitiless  density, 
Perished,  departed,  in  awful  immensity, 

Dread  ye  the  fate  of  their  ending  inglorious  ! 


They  in  their  beauty  and  arrogant  fearlessness 
Soiled  with  debauch  Nature's  law  in  its  peerlessness, 
Spurning  Jehovah  in  haughty  impiety, 


330  LOT'S  WIFE. 

Heedless  of  chastisement,  scorning  futurity, 
Mocking  His  word  and  His  promise  of  purity, 
Glad  of  their  vices  adored  to  satiety  ! 

Guided  by  priests  full  of  cunning  and  lechery, 
Slaves  to  the  monarchs  whose  promise  was  treachery, 

How  could  they  love  the  Creator  and,  dutiful, 
Seek  in  His  bosom  of  tempered  austerity 
Pardon  and  love,  and  adorable  verity, 

Charity  hallowed,  and  faith  ever  beautiful  ? 

No  !    They  did  spurn  and  reject  Him  distrustfully, 
Pleased  with  the  Mages  who  conquered  them  lustfully, 

Pleased  by  their  worship  of  flesh  and  immanity, 
Till  the  high  heavens,  defied  by  salacity, 
Punished  with  thunder  their  nameless  audacity, 

Crushed  them  and  doomed  their  rebellious  insanity  ! 

So  they  shall  suffer  for  odious  carnality, 
Now  and  forever,  to  all  immortality, 

And  the  great  God  they  have  outraged  diurnally, 
Hath  to  the  world  that  rolls  wondering  under  us 
Sworn  from  the  height  of  His  Majesty  thunderous 

Pardon  to  none  through  the  ages  eternally  ! 


LOT'S  WIFE.  331 

No  mercy  dwelt  in  God's  avenging  hand, 
No  pity  turned  His  anger  from  the  land, 
And,  when  the  day,  made  laggard  by  affright, 
Dawned  on  the  earth  in  miracles  of  light, 
The  guilty  towns,  that  dared  to  disobey, 
Their  temples  and  their  gods  had  passed  away  ! 


